A resume should highlight your accomplishments and show a recruiter why you're the best fit for the position. This makes the word 'built' perfect for your resume—it's a power verb that communicates a strong sense of accomplishment and skill. When recruiters read 'built,' they know that the applicant took an idea from concept to fulfillment and was able to create value out of nothing.

To ensure that your resume is well-written, you should avoid using the same word repeatedly, as it makes your resume sound like an echo chamber. It's a good idea to use synonyms to give your resume variety and depth and make it easier for the reader to understand.

To illustrate, if you're listing a project where you created a new system for your company, don't just say 'Built.' Instead, try saying something like: 'Devised a new system' or 'Programmed a new system.' You'll get across the same idea but with more clarity and precision.

Using synonyms makes your resume more varied and engaging. It also helps emphasize specific elements of what you did—for example, by using 'engineered' instead of 'built,' it draws attention to how well-thought-out the resulting product was.

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

Resume Synonyms for Built:

Formulated
Established
Designed
Initiated
Pioneered
Generated
Developed
Reengineered
Created
Masterminded
Instituted
Orchestrated
Revamped
Inaugurated
Cultivated
Fostered
Refined
Modernized
Transformed
Produced
Confected
Invented
Constructed
Coded
Programmed
Erected
Fabricated
Forged
Framed
Manufactured
Molded
Innovated
Constituted
Devised
Concocted
Improvised
Conceived
Engineered
Structured
Raised

How to replace Built with a stronger action verb:

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

Before: Weak example using Built

• Built machine learning algorithms to improve app engagement

⤸

After: Using a stronger synonym• Spearheaded the use of hypothesis testing, segmentation analysis, & machine learning algorithms reducing signup drop-offs from 60% to 10% as well as increasing user engagement by 45%. .

Replacing Built with Formulated ▾

Before: Built

• Built a new customer relationship management model

⤸

After: Formulated• Formulated a new CRM model that led to a 25% increase in sales and a 40% boost in customer satisfaction within 6 months

Instead of saying merely 'Built', which is quite vague, I used 'Formulated', which conveys planning and precise execution. I also went with tangible improvements - the changes in sales and customer satisfaction.

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 Built with Established ▾

Before: Built

• Built a new department from scratch

⤸

After: Established• Established an entirely new Operations department, managing hiring of 15 staff members that eventually expanded company’s customer base by 30%

To improve the bullet point, instead of 'Built', I opted for 'Established', highlighting the candidate's leadership and initiative. I also provided detail of their undertake and measured their impact numerically.

Replacing Built with Designed ▾

Before: Built

• Built responsive web designs for company's main website

⤸

After: Designed• Designed robust, user-friendly, responsive web elements for the company's main website, resulting in a 22% uplift in site traffic and a 15% increase in sales conversion within 3 months

While 'Built' was replaced with 'Designed' to emphasize deep involvement in the creation process, significant outcomes are highlighted this time – improvements in traffic and conversions.

Replacing Built with Initiated ▾

Before: Built

• Built successful partnerships

⤸

After: Initiated• Initiated and fostered profitable partnerships which led to a 35% increase in annual revenue and expanded the company’s market reach by 20%.

The word 'Initiated' shows leadership and proactivity more than 'Built'. Adding data shows the results of the partnerships such as increased revenue and market expansion.

Replacing Built with Pioneered ▾

Before: Built

• Built a software application from scratch

⤸

After: Pioneered• Pioneered the development of a cloud-based software application, now used by 1000s of customers globally and doubled the company revenue within 18 months

As a recruiter, 'Built' fails to capture entrepreneurial spirit, it's switched with 'Pioneered' which shows innovation, and I stress on the outcome of the development project.

Replacing Built with Generated ▾

Before: Built

• Built a new lead generation process

⤸

After: Generated• Generated a new, refined lead generation process that accelerated conversion rates by 36%, growing the customer base by 20% quarter-over-quarter.

To convey the application of expertise and craft, 'Built' was replaced with 'Generated', and I incorporated numbers to emphasize its successful impact on conversion rates and customer base growth.

Replacing Built with Developed ▾

Before: Built

• Built a new scalable data pipeline

⤸

After: Developed• Developed a scalable data pipeline that processed over 1.5 TB of data daily, improving data accessibility and team efficiency by 40%

While 'Built' was too generic, 'Developed' hints at technical sophistication and expertise. The scale of work and it's impact on the team efficiency were quantified to make it more convincing.

Replacing Built with Reengineered ▾

Before: Built

• Built a comprehensive budget tracking software

⤸

After: Reengineered• Reengineered a comprehensive budget tracking software that reduced budget variances by 20% and saved management 10 hours per week.

The term 'Reengineered' replaces 'Built' to emphasize the improvement and streamlining of an existing product, and numerical outcomes underline the achieved benefits.

Replacing Built with Created ▾

Before: Built

• Built an efficient planning model

⤸

After: Created• Created a result-oriented planning model that boosted team productivity by 30% and sped up project delivery times by 40%

'Built' is replaced with 'Created' to exert more creator credence while quantitative effects on productivity and delivery times support the candidate’s assertiveness.

Replacing Built with Masterminded ▾

Before: Built

• Built an effective digital marketing campaign strategy

⤸

After: Masterminded• Masterminded effective digital marketing campaigns that increased social media presence by 50% and bolstered web traffic by 30%.

'Masterminded', instead of 'Built', gives the impression of strategic thinking and planning, while quantitative improvements showcase the candidate's contribution to the company's online visibility.

Replacing Built with Instituted ▾

Before: Built

• Built team morale following a period of uncertainty

⤸

After: Instituted• Instituted a comprehensive employee engagement program following a restructuring period, leading to a 30% decrease in staff turnover within a year.

Instead of 'Built', I chose 'Instituted', to reflect a sense of authority and initiative. The numerical metric shows a substantial decrease in staff turnover, demonstrating impact.

Replacing Built with Orchestrated ▾

Before: Built

• Built links with potential business partners

⤸

After: Orchestrated• Orchestrated strategic alliance with 5 major industry players, fueling revenue growth by 50% within the first fiscal year

Using 'Orchestrated' instead of 'Built' underlines the candidate’s executive role and strategic thinking. Including numbers shows the concrete positive results of the partnerships.

Replacing Built with Revamped ▾

Before: Built

• Built company's social media strategy

⤸

After: Revamped• Revamped the company's social media strategy, leading to a 45% surge in followers and a 25% increase in conversions in just six months.

The verb 'Revamped' replaces 'Built' emphasizing an overhaul and proactive changes, quantitative improvements on social media followers and conversions pinpoint the absolute success of the new strategy.

Replacing Built with Inaugurated ▾

Before: Built

• Built successful customer loyalty programs

⤸

After: Inaugurated• Inaugurated a series of customer loyalty programs yielding a 30% increase in customer retention and a 20% boost in average transaction value.

The switch from 'Built' to 'Inaugurated' gives potential employers a sense of grandeur and the notable metrics used provide convincing proof of the applicant’s accomplishment.

Replacing Built with Cultivated ▾

Before: Built

• Built productive work environments

⤸

After: Cultivated• Cultivated a highly productive work environment resulting in a 20% rise in output and on-time project completions increasing by 35%.

'Cultivated', as opposed to 'Built', sheds light on the nurturing and growth aspects of the candidate’s role. Metrics depicting increased output and on-time completions provide tangible proof of their effectiveness.

Replacing Built with Fostered ▾

Before: Built

• Built good cross-functional team relationships

⤸

After: Fostered• Fostered cross-functional team relationships, streamlining the workflow and reducing product development cycle time by 30%.

Used 'Fostered' instead of 'Built' to signify a nurturing approach and added numerical results to illustrate the impact of the improved relationships on the product development cycle time.

Replacing Built with Refined ▾

Before: Built

• Built user interface design techniques

⤸

After: Refined• Refined user interface design techniques, improving user experience measures by 35% and reducing customer complaints by 40%.

'Refined', replacing 'Built', alludes to sophistication and precision. A specific increase in user experience measures and decrease in complaints quantifies the candidate's success.

Replacing Built with Modernized ▾

Before: Built

• Built the logistics process

⤸

After: Modernized• Modernized the outdated logistics process, resulting in a significant 45% reduction in delivery times and cost saving of $500k annually.

I changed 'Built' to 'Modernized' to illustrate candidate's ability to update and improve systems. Also, specific metrics show the tangible impact on delivery times and costs.

Replacing Built with Transformed ▾

Before: Built

• Built an efficient communication system

⤸

After: Transformed• Transformed the status quo of the interdepartmental communication system, improving internal communication flow by 60% and employee satisfaction by 30%.

I opted for 'Transformed' instead of 'Built' to emphasize the magnitude of change. Clear metrics like an increase in communication flow and employee satisfaction present definitive proof of the candidate’s effectiveness.

Replacing Built with Produced ▾

Before: Built

• Built efficient systems for data analysis

⤸

After: Produced• Produced efficient data analysis systems streamlining workflow, reducing the data processing time by 50%, and saving 20 hours of manual work per week.

'Produced' was chosen to replace 'Built' to highlight active creation, and I have added a timestamp and numerical value to demonstrate effectively the candidate’s contribution to productivity.

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 Built.

More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

How to use Managed on a resume:

• Managed international stakeholders in India, United Kingdom and Hong Kong by hosting daily standups and coordinating weekly status reports.

How to use Selected on a resume:

• Selected as a case interviewer for analyst candidates (usually reserved for Senior Consultant+ level).

How to use Reduced on a resume:

• Reduced signup drop-offs from 65% to 15%, increased user-engagement by 40%, and boosted content generation by 15%, through a combination of user interviews and A/B-testing-driven product flow optimization.

How to use Designed on a resume:

• Designed and implemented an automated system for processing employee timesheets, eliminating the need for manual handwritten timesheets and resulted in a 10/hr per week time saving.

How to use Launched on a resume:

• Launched Miami office with lead Director and recruited and managed new team of 10 employees. Grew office revenue by 200% in first nine months (representing 20% of company revenue).

How to use Performed on a resume:

• Performed financial analysis to evaluate public and private financing alternatives to strengthen client's balance sheet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Built on a resume?

Here are some synonyms for commonly repeated words, like Built, I see on resumes:

Raised
Concocted
Erected
Fabricated
Coded
Framed

What can I use instead of Built on a resume?

You should vary up your language on your resume, instead of using Built over and over again. Good synonyms to use instead include:

Improvised
Fabricated
Conceived
Constructed
Forged
Constituted

Get a free resume review: Find out if your action verbs are strong enough.

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