Resume Synonyms for Develop

Want another word for Develop to use on your resume? Our team's compiled the most effective action verbs and synonyms you can use instead of the overused resume phrase, "Develop".

Kimberley Tyler Smith Author Photo
Compiled by: Kimberley Tyler-Smith
Senior Hiring Manager
20+ Years of Experience

Recruiters love to see the word 'develop' in a resume as it indicates that you have an ability to innovate and have high growth potential. It shows that you're not just looking for a job—you're looking to make a real contribution.

Develop is indeed a powerful word to use on your resume. The problem is that when used repeatedly at the beginning of every bullet point in your resume, it can make your resume less engaging for a recruiter trying to get through hundreds of resumes daily. Also, it's important to use action verbs in the past tense to emphasize your accomplishments; in this case, you should use the past tense of develop, which is 'developed,' unless you're discussing an ongoing achievement or role.

To make your resume stand out, try to mix up your language a little bit—that way, it'll seem like each bullet point is saying something new, but you'll still get the point across. For example, instead of saying 'Developed,' try using synonyms like 'Originated' or 'Yielded.'

This way, you'll still be able to communicate that you were responsible for the development of something without being repetitive.

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

Resume Synonyms for Develop:

  • Augmented
  • Crafted
  • Commissioned
  • Composed
  • Concocted
  • Elaborated
  • Evolved
  • Embraced
  • Framed
  • Obtained
  • Reached
  • Manufactured
  • Originated
  • Strategized
  • Tailored
  • Yielded

How to replace Develop with a stronger action verb:

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

Before: Weak example using Develop

Develop market forecast models to inform new strategy for US luxury brand

After: Using a stronger synonymOverhauled U.K. strategy for a top U.S. luxury brand by building a market forecast model for 20+ cities based on multi-variable regression.

Replacing Develop with Established

Before: Develop

Develop CRM strategies to improve customer retention rates

After: EstablishedEstablished data-driven CRM strategies that improved customer retention rates by 30% in 6 months

To make this bullet point clearer, I replaced 'develop' with 'established' to highlight the act of starting or introducing a new strategy. Adding metrics like '30% in 6 months' quantifies the impact of the contribution.

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.


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 Develop.


More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

How to use Led on a resume:

Led training and peer-mentoring programs for the incoming class of 25 analysts in 2012; developed and maintained training program to reduce onboarding time for new hires by 50%.

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 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 Promoted on a resume:

Promoted within 12 months due to strong performance and organizational impact - ahead of schedule by 12 months.

How to use Created on a resume:

Created a performance reporting template, achieving an 80% reduction in the preparation time of standard client materials.

How to use Generated on a resume:

Generated 12,000 unique users, 30,000 page views, and 2000+ newsletter signups in 3 weeks by successfully leveraging social media advertising (Facebook and Instagram).


Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Develop on a resume?

Generic language like Develop are considered to be buzzwords because they're used so often. Consider using synonyms like Composed, Crafted, Obtained, Tailored, Concocted or Manufactured.

What is a better word for Develop on a resume?

Synonyms you can use instead of the overused phrase Develop include:

  • Composed
  • Crafted
  • Reached
  • Tailored
  • Framed
  • Augmented

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

If you have a version of your resume ready, remember to get it checked using our free resume scanner below. It will make sure all your action verbs are strong enough, and give you feedback on any mistakes you might have overlooked, so you can fix them before a recruiter sees them.



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