The action verb 'achieved' is used in resumes to express a skill or accomplishment. It tells a potential employer that you can achieve things and do what is asked of you. So when they read your resume, they know you're capable of achieving success.

This makes 'achieved' a great verb to use in your resume—it's not just a description of the action itself; it also tells recruiters what you accomplished. However, using 'achieved' repeatedly in your resume makes it sounds repetitive and self-congratulatory. While it's true that you've achieved something, you don't want to sound like you're bragging about your achievements—you want to sound confident but humble.

And to avoid this, you need to find synonyms for 'achieved.' Words to use on resume instead of 'achieved' are action verbs like attained, earned, or gained.

Using synonyms helps your resume flow better and shows that you're not just listing off what you've done but helps you emphasize specific points without feeling like they're being buried underneath other points in your resume. This is especially useful when writing about projects or achievements that have been particularly meaningful or difficult for you (e.g., if one achievement stands out more than others).

I've compiled some synonyms you can use instead of Achieved on your resume, followed by real examples I've written for clients (feel free to use them!).

Resume Synonyms for Achieved:

Spearheaded
Revamped
Fortified
Amplified
Augmented
Condensed
Rectified
Demonstrated
Constructed
Finalized
Elevated
Amended
Attained
Exceeded
Accomplished
Gained
Reached
Won
Realized
Earned
Completed
Fulfilled
Functioned
Visualized
Perfected
Pursued
Settled

How to replace Achieved with a stronger action verb:

Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase, Achieved, with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.

Before: Weak example using Achieved

• Achieved time savings for the team through automation

⤸

After: Using a stronger synonym• Saved 13 person-hours daily by writing scripts to automate 25 tasks like database backups, restores, and server provisioning. .

Replacing Achieved with Spearheaded ▾

Before: Achieved

• Achieved the rebuilding of the website

⤸

After: Spearheaded• Spearheaded the complete revamp of the company website, bringing traffic up by 35% within the first quarter.

The use of 'Spearheaded' suggests leadership and initiative, while being specific about what was done and the subsequent impact drives home the value brought to the company.

Tip: I've prepared a ton of additional examples for you to give you inspiration. Please click on any of the following to expand and see real examples of how I've rewritten client bullet points.

Replacing Achieved with Revamped ▾

Before: Achieved

• Achieved a boost in team communication

⤸

After: Revamped• Revamped team communication methods to streamline processes resulting in a 40% decrease in unactioned tasks.

Revising the weak 'Achieved a boost' to 'Revamped' shows an active approach to problem-solving, and including exact results provides measurable evidence of success.

Replacing Achieved with Fortified ▾

Before: Achieved

• Achieved a strong customer interface

⤸

After: Fortified• Fortified the customer interface by revamping the UX/UI design which improved customer satisfaction by 20%.

Using 'Fortified' underscores the strengthening of systems or processes involved. Specifying what you did and presenting quantifiable improvements make your role clear and significant.

Replacing Achieved with Amplified ▾

Before: Achieved

• Achieved better social media visibility

⤸

After: Amplified• Amplified the company's social media visibility by launching an effective content marketing strategy, resulting in a 60% increase in organic followers within six months.

'Amplified' is more dynamic than 'achieved', and linking your action directly to a positive outcome gives evidence of your success.

Replacing Achieved with Augmented ▾

Before: Achieved

• Achieved revenue growth

⤸

After: Augmented• Augmented annual revenue by 15% through the introduction of new sales strategies targeting overlooked market segments.

Switching out 'Achieved' with 'Augmented' taps into your active contribution. Providing numbers and specifying tactics used showcases your strategic thinking.

Replacing Achieved with Condensed ▾

Before: Achieved

• Achieved a reduction in process time

⤸

After: Condensed• Condensed the production process timeline by 25% through effective reorganisation and staff retraining.

Using 'Condensed' portrays your ability to make processes more efficient. Giving solid figures shows that you are results-oriented.

Replacing Achieved with Rectified ▾

Before: Achieved

• Achieved improvement in service mistakes

⤸

After: Rectified• Rectified service errors leading to a 30% decrease in customer complaints in the first quarter.

'Rectified' brings to light your problem-solving skills. Including the number of complaints decreased showcases the effectiveness of your solutions.

Replacing Achieved with Demonstrated ▾

Before: Achieved

• Achieved new technical skills

⤸

After: Demonstrated• Demonstrated proficiency in Python by developing a user-friendly inventory management system, reducing data errors by 20%.

'Demonstrated' emphasizes your hands-on approach and the specifics about your accomplishment underscore your skillability.

Replacing Achieved with Constructed ▾

Before: Achieved

• Achieved development of department profiles

⤸

After: Constructed• Constructed comprehensive department profiles resulting in better resource allocation and a 15% increase in interdepartmental project completion.

'Constructed' showcases your development skills. A specific achievement like '15% increase in project completion' presents a tangible value you bring to the employer.

Replacing Achieved with Finalized ▾

Before: Achieved

• Achieved project deadlines

⤸

After: Finalized• Finalized all assigned projects 1-2 weeks before deadlines, resulting in early product launches and a 10% increase in quarterly sales.

Using 'Finalized' indicates your ability to efficiently manage tasks. Including a direct outcome makes your actions valuable and significant.

How to use these synonyms in practice

We've put together an infographic to give you more examples of how to put this into practice. Note the use of strong action verbs instead of words like Achieved.

More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

How to use Coordinated on a resume:

• Coordinated a team of four developers and two designers to implement and launch online marketplace that connects students with tutors, within 6 months.

How to use Launched on a resume:

• Launched an e-commerce website which sold t-shirts themed on the 2016 Presidential Election; successfully processed 800+ online transactions from 600+ unique users.

How to use Led on a resume:

• Led team of six analysts towards saving client 10MM USD; acted as Engagement Manager by managing relationships with senior client stakeholders.

How to use Streamlined on a resume:

• Streamlined the implementation process and reduced the average product delivery time from 10 days to 4 days by redefining responsibilities and improving accountability of employees.

How to use Developed on a resume:

• Developed and implemented heavily parallelized algorithms to resize and watermark 5MM+ images of different sizes using Amazon EC2.

How to use Spearheaded on a resume:

• Spearheaded redevelopment of internal tracking system in use by 125 employees, resulting in 20+ new features, reduction of 20% in save/load time and 15% operation time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Achieved on a resume?

Generic language like Achieved are considered to be buzzwords because they're used so often. Consider using synonyms like Gained, Earned, Settled, Accomplished, Exceeded or Amended.

What are other words for Achieved on a resume?

Below are some alternative words and synonyms to add to your resume instead of Achieved:

Visualized
Exceeded
Realized
Earned
Functioned
Reached

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