Communicated is one of the essential verbs in your resume. It shows that you are an effective communicator and can communicate clearly and with a range of people—a crucial skill for any job.
However, repeatedly using the word 'communicated' is not always the best way to describe what you've done. Repeating the same word too many times in a resume is a common mistake that can hinder its effectiveness. It will make your resume look like it was written by an amateur and not by an experienced professional.
The best way to fix this problem is to use synonyms for 'communicated.' For example, you can replace it with action verbs such as: corresponded, clarified, or campaigned. These words can help your resume stand out from others by giving it more variety.
Changing up using synonyms allows you to write more clearly while still communicating the same idea. Synonyms make it easier for recruiters to understand precisely what you've done. They can also help you avoid repetition or redundancy in your writing that's already full of information. This way, using synonyms will help keep your reader engaged and focused on what matters most: hiring you for the job!
I've compiled some synonyms you can use instead of Communicated on your resume, followed by real examples I've written for clients (feel free to use them!).
Resume Synonyms for Communicated:
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Presented
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Liaised
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Interacted
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Engaged
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Promoted
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Asserted
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Articulated
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Expressed
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Broadcasted
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Enlightened
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Persuaded
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Negotiated
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Synced
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Spearheaded
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Facilitated
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Corresponded
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Projected
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Briefed
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Documented
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Wrote
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Campaigned
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Lobbied
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Explained
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Consulted
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Informed
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Advised
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Advertised
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Broadcasted
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Circulated
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Distributed
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Clarified
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Conveyed
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Defined
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Endorsed
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Networked
How to replace Communicated with a stronger action verb:
Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase, Communicated, with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.
Before: Weak example using Communicated• Communicated with customers on an hourly basis
⤸
After: Using a stronger synonym• Informed approximately 20 consumers hourly of projected delivery dates, service contracts, warranties, or other product-related information. .
Before: Communicated• Communicated the quarter results to the team
⤸After: Presented• Presented the impressive second quarter results, boasting a 15% growth, to a team of 50 members.
As a recruiter, replacing vague verbs like 'communicated' enhances the impact of the action. 'Presented' specifically depicts the task carried out, and including metrics like '15% growth' stresses its significance.
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.
Before: Communicated• Communicated between different departments to get tasks done.
⤸After: Liaised• Liaised between the sales and the inventory teams to ensure a 25% boost in stock visibility for speedy sales execution.
The synonym 'Liaised' is much more specific than 'Communicated', providing a clear picture of your role as an intermediary. I added a specific figure to quantify the results of your actions.
Before: Communicated• Communicated with online visitors to capture leads.
⤸After: Interacted• Interacted with over 500 website visitors weekly, leading to a 35% increase in lead captures.
The revised statement uses a more nuanced synonym, backed by data on volume and impact. This provides a richer account of the task and results.
Before: Communicated• Communicated with employees regarding company policies.
⤸After: Engaged• Engaged 200 employees in sessions to gain their understanding and adherence to revised company policies, reducing violations by 60%.
As the hiring manager, I replaced the verb and highlighted numbers illustrating the scope of the task and the achieved output. The changes provide concrete examples of your effective communication skill.
Before: Communicated• Communicated the brand's benefits to potential customers.
⤸After: Promoted• Promoted the exclusive benefits of the brand to 1000+ potential customers at a trade fair resulting in 300+ new sign-ups.
Instead of simply 'communicating', promoting involves proactive efforts to sell something. Quantitative data helps sell your abilities and achievements in a concrete, verifiable way.
Before: Communicated• Communicated company's stance in negotiation meetings.
⤸After: Asserted• Asserted company's stance in high-stakes negotiation meetings with five top-tier clients, bringing about favorable contracts that improved profit margins by 18%.
The synonym 'Asserted' emphasizes authority and conviction. Specific numbers and results create a compelling and persuasive statement.
Before: Communicated• Communicated project expectations to the team.
⤸After: Articulated• Articulated project expectations to a team of 15, leading to the project's completion 2 weeks ahead of schedule.
The word 'articulated' conveys a clearer, accurate message. The added metric further emphasises the impact of your communication skills.
Before: Communicated• Communicated market analysis to stakeholders.
⤸After: Expressed• Expressed detailed market analysis to 20+ stakeholders, catalysing strategic changes that led to a 12% increase in market share.
The action verb 'expressed' suggests a careful and thoughtful communication approach. Quantifiable results then demonstrate the effectiveness of that communication.
Before: Communicated• Communicated company news to the entire staff.
⤸After: Broadcasted• Broadcasted key company news to 500+ staff via the intranet, ensuring 98% of the workforce were kept abreast of important updates within 24 hours.
Using the verb 'broadcasted' makes it clear you were communicating to a wide audience. I added specific metrics to show reach and timeliness.
Before: Communicated• Communicated new regulations to employees.
⤸After: Enlightened• Enlightened 150+ employees about updated industry regulations, resulting in zero non-compliance issues in the subsequent audit.
The action verb 'Enlightened' implies you provided new, useful knowledge. Inclusion of exact impacts makes your contribution concrete and significant.
Before: Communicated• Communicated the benefits of the product to clients.
⤸After: Persuaded• Persuaded 80+ prospective clients about the product's advantages leading to a 70% uptake in product adoption.
The verb 'Persuaded' signals the ability to influence. Including conversion rates shows the effectiveness of your persuasive communication.
Before: Communicated• Communicated with suppliers for good purchasing deals.
⤸After: Negotiated• Negotiated strategic deals with 30 suppliers and secured cost-savings of over 15%, enhancing annual profit margins.
The term 'Negotiated' reflects skilled, purposeful communication, portraying a tactful professional. Metrics showing savings highlight your financial acumen.
Before: Communicated• Communicated project updates within the team.
⤸After: Synced• Regularly synced project updates with a 10-member team, improving project efficiency by 25%.
'Synced' typically denotes ongoing, systematic communication rather than sporadic, one-time updates. Including specific numbers provides evidence of the positive impact.
Before: Communicated• Communicated the new initiative to the entire team.
⤸After: Spearheaded• Spearheaded the announcement of a company-wide initiative, leading to 95% staff engagement within a week.
'Spearheaded' implies leadership and initiative. Clear metrics make it tangible, demonstrating the level of engagement.
Before: Communicated• Communicated project progress to clients.
⤸After: Facilitated• Facilitated client meetings to report monthly project progress, maintaining 98% client satisfaction rate over the year.
'Facilitated' implies you took active charge in the communication process. The specific metric here showcases the effectiveness and reception of your communication.
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 Communicated.
More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms
How to use Designed on a resume:
• Designed and implemented operational efficiency improvement program for leading UK energy supplier to reduce rate of energy outages by 60% in three years.
How to use Performed on a resume:
• Performed financial analysis to evaluate public and private financing alternatives to strengthen client's balance sheet.
How to use Conducted on a resume:
• Conducted competitor benchmarking analysis, competitor/distributor interviews and data analysis to determine that the existing sustained decline in a luxury skincare product business was reversible, building the case for a successful $150MM acquisition.
How to use Optimized on a resume:
• Optimized production line, resulting in 10% throughput increase and standardized processes in bulk production.
How to use Created on a resume:
• Created method to compute similarity of all methods in a code base; reduced time complexity from O(n2) to O(n log n).
How to use Managed on a resume:
• Managed user engagement analytics strategy, providing first insight into how users interact with our apps on their tablets and mobile devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
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