To stand out from the crowd, consider using the verb 'developing,' which is the present participle of 'develop,' when describing your skills. It shows that you can take on challenges and complete them successfully. It also demonstrates that you're a forward-thinker who is always looking for ways to improve yourself and the world around you.

Still, when writing resumes, it's essential to use language that's both professional and unique. While 'developing' is a word that can be useful in describing your work experience, overusing it on your resume could bore the recruiter and skip over important information. Additionally, when listing your past accomplishments, it's better to use the verb's past tense ('developed') than its present-tense form ('developing').

To fix this problem, consider using synonyms for 'developing,' such as 'progressed,' 'grew,' and 'materialized.' These words give more flexibility when describing your work experience and make it clear that your skills are strong in development and innovation.

Synonyms allow you to use more descriptive language in your resume without giving too much detail—you tell the recruiter how you seek ways to improve the company while using your skills, but you don't have to list every single one of them.

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

Resume Synonyms for Developing:

Designed
Initiated
Engineered
Established
Formulated
Accelerated
Honed
Strengthened
Modernized
Progressed
Elaborated
Materialized
Reached
Nurtured
Grew
Amplified
Forged
Tailored
Contrived
Actuated
Impelled
Prospered
Succeeded
Flourished
Reinforced
Extended
Commenced
Increased
Enlarged

How to replace Developing with a stronger action verb:

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

Before: Weak example using Developing

• Developed marketing plans to increase company's fan base

⤸

After: Using a stronger synonym• Created a launch plan and 15 digital campaigns on Facebook including posts and promotions, and grew the fan base from 25K to 89K in a little under 4.5 weeks..

Replacing Developing with Designed ▾

Before: Developing

• Developing and implementing advertising campaigns

⤸

After: Designed• Designed and executed 5 successful advertising campaigns in various social media platforms that boosted company's online visibility by 35% in Q2 2021.

By swapping 'Developing' with 'Designed', the bullet point starts off with a strong action verb that specifically describes the candidate's role. Also, including a measurable achievement helps recruiters understand the results of the candidate's actions.

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 Developing with Initiated ▾

Before: Developing

• Developing new product features

⤸

After: Initiated• Initiated and successfully integrated 3 new product features which resulted in a 20% increase in user interaction.

Instead of just 'Developing', 'Initiated' shows ownership and leadership while integrating specific numbers and achievements makes the bullet point more compelling.

Replacing Developing with Engineered ▾

Before: Developing

• Developing strategies to increase selling

⤸

After: Engineered• Engineered an innovative sales strategy that uplifted the quarterly sales numbers by 50%, exceeding the company's target.

The word 'Engineered' suggests precision and expertise, making it a powerful replacement for 'Developing'. Specifying the increased sales numbers showcases the direct impact the candidate had.

Replacing Developing with Established ▾

Before: Developing

• Developing training programs for the team

⤸

After: Established• Established comprehensive training programs that contributed to a 40% increase in the team's productivity and a 30% decrease in onboarding time.

The term 'Established' implies authority and initiative. Combining this with specific numerical results gives a complete picture of the candidate's contribution and its effectiveness.

Replacing Developing with Formulated ▾

Before: Developing

• Developing new business partnerships

⤸

After: Formulated• Formulated and cultivated 7 high-value business partnerships that expanded the organization's market reach by 45%.

Replacing 'Developing' with 'Formulated' implies a mindful planning process. The numerical value shows the impact of the candidate's actions on the business's growth.

Replacing Developing with Accelerated ▾

Before: Developing

• Developing the speed of the company's operations

⤸

After: Accelerated• Accelerated the company's operational speed by streamlining the processes, which slashed production time by 25% in 2020.

The term 'Accelerated' offers a more distinct picture of the candidate's task than 'Developing'. The precise achievement gives recruiters a clear sense of the candidate's effectiveness.

Replacing Developing with Honed ▾

Before: Developing

• Developing a skills program

⤸

After: Honed• Honed company talent by creating a skills enhancement program, ultimately lifting the department's efficiency by 33%.

'Honed' implies the refinement of a preexisting quality, making it a great alternative to 'Developing'. Offering specifics about the scheme's outcome illustrates its success and endurance.

Replacing Developing with Strengthened ▾

Before: Developing

• Developing the client relationships

⤸

After: Strengthened• Strengthened and solidified the relationships with key clients, leading to a 40% increase in repeat business in the year 2020.

'Strengthened' is a valuable substitute for 'Developing', providing a clearer depiction of the candidate's role. By introducing precise numbers, recruiters can grasp the scope and outcomes of the applicant's work.

Replacing Developing with Modernized ▾

Before: Developing

• Developing and revamping the website

⤸

After: Modernized• Modernized the business website incorporating user-friendly features, which resulted in a 60% spike in web traffic and increased user engagement.

Swapping 'Developing' for 'Modernized' clarifies the candidate's role. Furthermore, the bullet point now includes specific result-oriented metrics which offers a concise evidence of the candidate's skills.

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 Developing.

More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

How to use Developed on a resume:

• Developed strategies to trade and manage risk on the trading book comprising 30+ indices; 2016 P&L: $8M.

How to use Analyzed on a resume:

• Analyzed company's 24-month sales results to develop five-year monthly projections by revenue and customer type.

How to use Assessed on a resume:

• Assessed capacity risks and developed an operating cost model of a $100MM supplier for a private equity client, highlighting $4-6MM potential savings opportunities.

How to use Led on a resume:

• Led 2 business analysts to automate repetitive process flows using Excel Macros / VBA and reduce analysis time by 10+ hours per week.

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 Conducted on a resume:

• Conducted sector research in TMT space through expert interviews, market reports, and engagement with external advisors; created sector map of big data analytics space; prepared recommendations on attractiveness and feasibility on 6+ prospects.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Developing on a resume?

Generic language like Developing are considered to be buzzwords because they're used so often. Consider using synonyms like Actuated, Tailored, Increased, Materialized, Forged or Commenced.

What is a better way of saying Developing on a resume?

If you're looking for another word to use in place of Developing, consider using one of these stronger alternatives:

Nurtured
Amplified
Tailored
Reached
Actuated
Impelled

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

As a next step, I'd recommend going through each of your resume's verbs and improving each one with stronger action verbs. The most effective way to do that is by uploading your resume to tool below. It'll tell you which parts of your resume need work, so you can improve them before a recruiter rejects you for them.

Related resume examples

Finance Director

Assistant Director of Finance

Go To Download Page

Director of Finance

Go To Download Page

Finance Director

Go To Download Page

Go to the full Finance Director Resume Guide or Finance Director CV Guide to see and download more proven templates.

Financial Advisor

Entry Level Financial Advisor

Go To Download Page

Financial Aid Advisor

Go To Download Page

Financial Advisor

Go To Download Page

Portfolio Manager

Go To Download Page

Entry Level Financial Advisor

Go To Download Page

Go to the full Financial Advisor Resume Guide or Financial Advisor CV Guide to see and download more proven templates.

VP of Finance

Senior Vice President Finance

A senior vice president of finance resume sample that highlights the applicant’s executive experience and quantifiable success.

Go To Download Page

VP Operations and Finance

A vice president of operations and finance resume sample that highlights the applicant’s dualistic roles and skills.

Go To Download Page

VP of Finance

A vice president of finance resume sample that highlights the applicant’s career progression and markable success.

Go To Download Page

Go to the full VP of Finance Resume Guide or VP of Finance CV Guide to see and download more proven templates.

Get a free resume review

Get expert feedback on your resume, instantly. Our free AI-powered resume checker scores your resume on key criteria recruiters and hiring managers look for. Get actionable steps to revamp your resume and land more interviews.

Upload Resume

Jump to another phrase