Every resume accomplishment needs a strong action verb. But what happens when you run out of ideas?
Let’s face it — scanning resumes isn’t the most riveting job to begin with, and no hiring manager wants to spend their day reading the exact same word over and over. After all, whose eyes wouldn’t glaze over after reading “created” seven times in a row?
If you’re trying to avoid this — and who isn’t? — here’s a complete guide to power verbs, including the best ones to use on your resume.
Examples of resume power words with synonyms
Making your resume sound more interesting is easier said than done. The solution? We’ve put together a list of some most overused resume verbs — and what you can replace them with.
Synonyms for Created on your resume
Hiring managers love people who can get creative — and, more importantly, convert that creativity into results. To show off your high-level conceptual skills, try synonyms like:
- Initiated
- Innovated
- Conceptualized
- Drafted
- Established
- Planned
- Set up
- Devised
- Built
- Developed
- Designed
- Pioneered
- Structured
- Produced
For example:
- Designed and launched customer feedback systems for software company, improving net promoter score by 30 points in pilot teams over 6 months.
- Conceptualized and implemented behavioral push notifications based on in-app usage; increased retention by 10%.
We've compiled some more examples and synonyms for Created, and the present tense version of the verb, Create.
Synonyms for Collaborated on your resume
Teamwork and communication are key skills hiring managers are looking for. To demonstrate your ability to contribute to a collegial working environment, try synonyms like:
- Communicated
- Corresponded
- Facilitated
- Negotiated
- Proposed
- Liaised
- Enlisted
- Instructed
For example:
- Liaised with influencers and key bloggers to extend public relations initiatives; yielding 22% ROI improvements.
We've compiled more synonyms to the action verb, collaborate.
Synonyms for Managed on your resume
If you’ll be supervising other employees, recruiters will want to see evidence of your management skills. Show that you have what it takes to lead with synonyms like:
- Coordinated
- Administered
- Supervised
- Mentored
- Trained
- Coached
- Guided
- Organized
- Ran
- Led
- Facilitated
- Arranged
- Allocated
- Delegated
For example:
- Led a 15-person department responsible for all consumer acquisition and retention marketing, branding, corporate communications, B2B marketing and sales support, and product development.
- Coached 30 summer interns and launched a mentorship program for new joiners in the Berlin office.
Want more synonyms to Managed? See this list of Managed synonyms compiled by our resident resume expert.
Synonyms for Assisted on your resume
If you’re applying for entry level or assistant roles, highlight your past contributions and willingness to help with synonyms like:
- Co-authored
- Contributed
- Liaised
- Facilitated
- Administered
- Scheduled
- Collaborated
- Organized
- Compiled
For example:
- Organized attorney case files, enabling them to bill 20% more hours.
- Communicated with 20 staff members to schedule meetings and assist them as needed.
For more examples, see other words you can use instead of Assisted.
Synonyms for Learned on your resume
A commitment to learning isn’t just an important aspect of professional development — it’s also a key skill for jobs involving research and analysis. Try using synonyms like:
- Attained
- Mastered
- Discovered
- Identified
- Studied
- Trained
- Enrolled
- Acquired
- Undertook
- Researched
For example:
- Researched and negotiated a new payroll vendor, saving $2,000 annually in payroll fees.
- Identified fraudulent transactions by analyzing customer’s spending behavior, increasing the accuracy rate by over 97%.
Synonyms for Developed on your resume
Whether it’s initiating a project or seeing it through to completion, demonstrate your ability to shape initiatives and guide outcomes with synonyms like:
- Implemented
- Expanded
- Founded
- Invented
- Launched
- Established
- Generated
- Initiated
- Started
For example:
- Founded a tech startup for online education; partnered with 50 education companies in the first year of business.
- Developed web scraping program in Python to help the firm download public data, including over 10,000 company descriptions and stock quotes, enriching internal data and increasing research efficiency by over 50%
We're prepared more action verbs you can use instead of Developed. If you're describing your current job, here are synonyms to the present tense version, Develop.
Synonyms for Oversaw on your resume
If you’re applying for roles where you’ll be in charge of something — whether that’s a single product, a small team, or a whole department — highlight your capability with synonyms like:
- Directed
- Led
- Spearheaded
- Orchestrated
- Executed
- Headed
For example:
- Directed agency fundraising revenue generation, daily program business operations, community outreach membership recruitment, and human resources in 30 suburbs in the city for organizations with assets of $8M.
- Executed all global marketing strategies and activities for the $2B company including a 3-5 year strategic plan.
Our in-house resume expert prepared an additional set of synonyms to Oversaw that you can use.
Synonyms for Worked With on your resume
Hiring managers want to hire people who work well with others. Whether you’re in a customer-facing role or simply working within a team, show that you’re a people person with synonyms like:
- Communicated
- Mediated
- Teamed
- Collaborated
- Participated
- Cooperated
- Partnered
- Contributed
- Negotiated
- Networked
- Engaged
For example:
Collaborated with the assistant director of creative services and 15+ other designers to maintain graphic quality.
Devised a pricing and branding strategy with the Strategy team to launch a new three-tier pricing model; achieved a 27% increase in profit
Here are more alternatives you can use to Worked With.
Synonyms for Helped on your resume
Recruiters often look for applicants who are willing to help out, whether in a formal capacity or simply someone who’s willing to go above and beyond in a pinch. Illustrate your can-do attitude with synonyms like:
- Supported
- Enabled
- Improved
- Resolved
- Upgraded
- Advised
- Expedited
- Guided
- Assisted
- Recommended
- Counselled
- Enhanced
For example:
- Enhanced team performance through coaching, feedback and effective communication, increasing team efficacy rate by 15% with higher job satisfaction reported amongst staff.
- Supported CEO and executive team of 5 with Six Sigma training and process implementation, saving over 10 hours per week on office functions.
If you need more action verbs for Helped, check out this list of Helped synonyms. If you're describing a job you're currently doing, you can consider using the present tense of the word. In that case, see this list of synonyms for Help.
Synonyms for Conducted on your resume
The most valuable skills on any resume are the ones that show that you can actually do the job you’re applying for. Demonstrate hands-on experience with synonyms like:
- Performed
- Achieved
- Prepared
- Catalogued
- Generated
- Collected
- Operated
- Processed
- Recorded
- Classified
- Investigated
- Screened
- Analyzed
For example:
- Collected data on user experience; made improvements to software and increased usage by 70%.
- Investigated major security breaches in network; set up new firewall with 99% efficacy in blocking future breaches.
For more, see this curated list of synonyms for Conducted.
Synonyms for Maintained on your resume
Whether it’s single-handedly keeping an aspect of the business running or simply contributing to its smooth operation, impress hiring managers with synonyms like:
- Operated
- Refined
- Reviewed
- Streamlined
- Saved
- Allocated
- Balanced
- Automated
- Strengthened
- Engineered
For example:
- Streamlined assembly line process, leading to a 60% increase in worker efficiency.
- Engineered database infrastructures for high-profile clients; increased revenue by 60%.
Here are some more synonyms to the action verb, Maintain.
Synonyms for Responsible For on your resume
Don't let your resume read like a job description. Keep the focus on what you actually did with synonyms like:
For example:
Demonstrated exceptional product knowledge of over 300 clinical nutrition formulas and medical foods.
Our resident career coach compiled this list of alternatives you can use to Responsible For.
Synonyms for Led on your resume
If you're applying for a leadership position, it's time to highlight accomplishments where you took a leading role. Try synonyms like:
- Planned
- Oversaw
- Programmed
- Chaired
- Cultivated
- Executed
- Hosted
- Guided
- Drove
For example:
Executed self-insured health plan including wellness benefits which saved the business in excess of $70K or 20% and influenced over 200 staff members to become healthier.
Drove the development of an improved mobile app, driving record downloads +250% YOY.
Synonyms for Volunteered on your resume
Hiring managers love candidates who are willing to go above and beyond. Emphasize your philanthropic side with synonyms like:
- Enrolled
- Entered
- Joined
- Registered
- Inducted
- Tendered
- Engaged
- Initiated
- Enlisted
For example:
Engaged volunteers, prepared position descriptions, and led frontline communication for ABC Foundation’s annual signature event held in February.
Synonyms for Ensured on your resume
Keeping everything running smoothly is no small task. Demonstrate your attention to detail with synonyms like:
- Confirmed
- Guaranteed
- Verified
- Monitored
- Screened
- Inspected
- Authorized
- Certified
- Enforced
- Delegated
- Established
For example:
Monitored the performance of each team member by conducting a monthly touch base, coaching in the moment, and implementing disciplinary actions in a write up.
Want more synonyms? See this list of synonyms to Ensure, compiled by our resident hiring manager.
Synonyms for Provided on your resume
The most important thing to hiring managers is the company's bottom line. Show that you have what it takes to deliver results with synonyms like:
- Generated
- Boosted
- Delivered
- Expanded
- Maximized
- Produced
- Acquired
- Forged
- Negotiated
- Partnered
- Gained
- Capitalized
- Secured
- Grew
For example:
Generated 50+ donors through cold call sales and systematic email outreach; qualified leads based on industry and location.
Maximized revenue by 45% by providing direct supervision and training to 10 managers to problem areas of the company.
If you need them, check out more synonyms to the action verb Provide?
Synonyms for Prepared on your resume
Preparation is sometimes invisible — but that doesn't mean it has to be! Show off your work behind the scenes with synonyms like:
- Converted
- Deployed
- Integrated
- Merged
- Redesigned
- Strengthened
- Updated
- Adapted
- Employed
- Mobilized
- Restored
For example:
Integrated the developed email campaigns to the new system with the company's 900+ email list; increased open rates by 10%.
Synonyms for Worked On on your resume
Don't fill your resume with meaningless fluff like "worked on ..." Instead, get straight to the point with synonyms like:
- Targeted
- Compiled
- Contributed
- Formulated
- Pursued
- Undertook
- Operated
- Applied
- Handled
- Adopted
For example:
Led team of 5 to build 7 mobile applications which helped the company retain upwards of $70k per month.
If you need additional synonyms, check out this list of synonyms to Worked, and this set of synonyms to Worked With.
Synonyms for Improved on your resume
If you've made things better for your company in a measurable way — improving a process, generating sales, or fixing a problem — those accomplishments should be front and center on your resume. Spotlight your achievements with synonyms like:
- Centralized
- Converted
- Enhanced
- Merged
- Integrated
- Refined
- Revamped
- Streamlined
- Standardized
- Upgraded
- Customized
- Transformed
- Remodeled
- Overhauled
- Rehabilitated
For example:
Enhanced implementing writing standards for the web; reduced 46% of complaints received by the server.
Overhauled existing employee onboarding processes resulting in an increase in performance of 30% in the average employee’s first three months.
Synonyms for Researched on your resume
Research is a crucial skill for many jobs — and not just roles where formal research is a key responsibility. Show off your critical thinking and analytical skills with synonyms like:
- Analyzed
- Examined
- Measured
- Quantified
- Investigated
- Evaluated
- Assessed
- Forecasted
- Surveyed
- Tested
- Tracked
- Identified
- Studied
For example:
Identified manually intensive data collection tasks for the sales team and worked with engineering to launch tools that reduced manual work by 100 hours each month.
Analyzed data to identify potential upsell opportunities for new clients leading to $600K in sales.
Synonyms for Communicated on your resume
Communication is one of those soft skills that nearly job needs — and any applicant can claim to have. Show, don't tell, with synonyms like:
- Authored
- Briefed
- Corresponded
- Documented
- Presented
- Wrote
- Reviewed
- Edited
- Campaigned
- Composed
- Lobbied
- Explained
- Consulted
- Informed
- Advised
For example:
Guided and advised 10+ business partners through annual talent assessments, discussions, and proactively pipelining for future openings.
Wrote 12 articles on consumer psychology and entrepreneurship, generating 25,000 page views, 4,000 re-tweets, and 3,500 newsletter subscribers.
If you need more resume synonyms, check out this list of action verbs of Communicate synonyms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of our FAQs — or, in other words, everything you need to know about resume power verbs.
What are resume power verbs?
You’ve probably heard of power words, but what are they exactly? Power words, power verbs, and action verbs are all the same thing — the verbs you use to start your work experience bullet points. These are the words that specify what you did, like “managed,” “developed,” or “assisted.”
Why should I use power words on my resume?
You might be wondering why you even need synonyms for common resume power verbs — after all, what’s wrong with sticking to a few common verbs? Simply put, it’s because reading the same thing over and over is boring.
If a recruiter reads half a dozen bullet points starting with the same word, they’ll start to lose focus, have trouble differentiating your accomplishments, and will likely conclude that you’re repeatedly demonstrating a limited number of skills.
On the other hand, using interesting, unique verbs can help your accomplishments stand out and allow you to be more precise about exactly what it is you achieved.
I’d recommend uploading your resume to the tool below — it’ll let you know if you have used strong action verbs and synonyms to showcase your accomplishments.
Related: Improve Your Resume by Eliminating Adverbs
What words should I avoid using on my resume?
Here are a few things to steer clear of when writing a resume:
Buzzwords
Power words are not the same thing as buzzwords. Meaningless phrases like “results driven,” “above and beyond,” “hard worker,” and “team player” are overused and too subjective to belong on your resume.
Boring words and phrases
Phrases like “responsible for” or “in charge of” are boring, but even worse, they say very little about what it is you actually did. Avoid anything that sounds like it came straight from a job description — always focus on your accomplishments, not on your responsibilities.
Repetition
If you find yourself using the same verb more than once or twice on your resume — especially in quick succession — it’s time to change it up. Scroll up for a list of synonyms for common resume power verbs, or check out some alternative action verbs.
Eliminate buzzwords and boring phrases from your resume and replace them with keywords and hard skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Use the tool below to find some relevant ones.
How do I know if I’ve used resume power verbs?
Try uploading your resume to a free resume checker. Score My Resume can give you instant feedback about the strength of your resume and a few easy suggestions for improvement.
