Resume Synonyms for Gain

Want another word for Gain 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, "Gain".

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

Having a present tense verb like 'gain' in your resume shows that you're not afraid of hard work—you've pushed through obstacles to get ahead. You have an eye for opportunity and know how to capitalize on it. It shows that you will go above and beyond what is expected of you.

The word 'gain' also gives the hiring manager an idea of the kind of person they might be working with: someone who wants to learn, grow, and improve. However, using this term frequently in your bullet points can make you appear unoriginal and less confident in your own ideas. It's also applicable to use the verb's past tense when highlighting previous achievements (i.e., 'gained').

Instead, use synonyms such as 'acquired,' 'surpassed, 'or 'increased' in place of the action verb 'gain.' This will help show that you're a person with ambition and drive without being repetitive.

Synonyms help draw attention to your skills and accomplishments using various descriptive words. Recruiters can see right away that you want to achieve more than just the bare minimum required by your role and to make an impact on your company or industry, which is why you're putting yourself forward for a job opportunity.

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

Resume Synonyms for Gain:

  • Bolstered
  • Doubled
  • Capitalized
  • Fortified
  • Multiplied
  • Enlivened
  • Intensified
  • Surpassed
  • Revitalized
  • Escalated
  • Outpaced
  • Increased
  • Acquired
  • Procured
  • Retrieved
  • Collected
  • Obtained
  • Purchased
  • Derived
  • Earned

How to replace Gain with a stronger action verb:

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

Before: Weak example using Gain

Gained valuable experience in purchasing and inventory management

After: Using a stronger synonymExpedited order entry and inventory tracking for 19 large retail chains; slashed inventory levels by 46% within one month of implementation. .

Replacing Gain with Amplified

Before: Gain

Gained profits by improving sales strategies

After: AmplifiedAmplified business profits by 38% within one year by implementing innovative and effective sales strategies.

Here, I changed 'Gained' to 'Amplified' to make the sentence more impactful and specific. I included the percentage of increase in business profits and the time frame to portray a clear picture of the candidate's achievements.

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 Gain.


More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

How to use Led on a resume:

Led five developers to establish client's ERP system; identified $1.5MM in cost savings, and secured $1MM+ in additional work for Accenture.

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 Analyzed on a resume:

Analyzed 50+ companies to identify potential investments, built valuation models, and visited 90+ members of senior management in Germany, Nigeria, Indonesia and Singapore to evaluate companies' growth outlook.

How to use Generated on a resume:

Generated insights on customer churn and renewal rates from data tables with 100M rows in SQL.

How to use Delivered on a resume:

Delivered product solutions to institutional and corporate clients; grew customer base by +25% in Europe.

How to use Created on a resume:

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


Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Gain on a resume?

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

  • Escalated
  • Outpaced
  • Derived
  • Doubled
  • Retrieved
  • Acquired

What can I say instead of Gain on a resume?

You can say Purchased, Collected or Surpassed instead of Gain.


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

To figure out if you're using the right verbs on your resume, you should upload it to the tool below. It'll analyze at each of your resume's bullet points and verbs, as well as 20+ key criteria hiring managers look for, and tell you if you have any big mistakes that need fixing.



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