Employers value workers who are able to take charge and bring a project or situation to a successful conclusion. Including the action verb 'headed' in your resume shows that you have these abilities and are willing to put them into action for your next job!

However, using 'headed' time and time again in your resume will make it sound repetitious and can make the content seem less important. It is best to avoid using the same word in close succession, but if you must use a word multiple times, it's most effective to add synonyms to the mix so that your writing is varied and interesting.

To do this, substitute 'headed' with other words such as 'navigated,' 'spearheaded,' or 'ushered.' Using these synonyms will make your resume more dynamic and give it a more professional tone.

A diverse use of synonyms in your writing helps to make your resume lively and exciting. It also enables you to avoid sounding like everyone who uses 'headed' when describing their job responsibilities; adding synonyms will help set yourself apart from other applicants. This lets recruiters track what you're saying—that you can take charge and get things done.

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

Resume Synonyms for Headed:

Led
Piloted
Controlled
Oversaw
Chaired
Spearheaded
Managed
Launched
Directed
Operated
Governed
Orchestrated
Commanded
Administered
Inaugurated
Contracted
Coordinated
Empowered
Modeled
Restructured
Ushered
Spearheaded
Accomplished
Appointed
Approved
Assigned
Hosted
Navigated
Originated
Assumed
Elected
Enlisted
Influenced
Stimulated
Nurtured

How to replace Headed with a stronger action verb:

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

Before: Weak example using Headed

• Headed a new training platform for the company

⤸

After: Using a stronger synonym• Supervised the expansion of a web-based training platform that reduced the yearly training costs by $1.5M per quarter. .

Replacing Headed with Led ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed team projects

⤸

After: Led• Led product development team to a successful 40% increase in quarterly revenue, while reducing project completion timeline by 2 weeks.

By replacing 'Headed' with 'Led', we specify the role filled by the candidate. Adding concrete numbers evidences the impact made by the leadership.

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 Headed with Piloted ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed the design team

⤸

After: Piloted• Piloted the in-house design team and successfully launched a new product line that increased the company's market share by 12%.

Using 'Piloted' instead of 'Headed' emphasizes lead role, while adding the specific achievement adds much-needed detail to show the candidate's mettle.

Replacing Headed with Controlled ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed cost estimates

⤸

After: Controlled• Controlled the financial estimation process resulting in reduced material expenses by 25%, increasing the overall company profits.

'Controlled' implies more authority than 'Headed'. Mentioning a specific percentage of cost reduction gives a clear result of the candidate's performance.

Replacing Headed with Oversaw ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed the marketing team

⤸

After: Oversaw• Oversaw the marketing team to implement an innovative campaign strategy that boosted traffic by 40% and doubled conversion rates.

'Oversaw' suggests management, and the precision of campaign success brings clarity to the candidate's competencies.

Replacing Headed with Chaired ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed the weekly meetings

⤸

After: Chaired• Chaired weekly departmental meetings implementing effective communication strategies which resulted in a 30% productivity increase in team projects.

Replacing 'Headed' with 'Chaired' gives specificity, while quantifiable improvements clarify the candidate's effectiveness.

Replacing Headed with Spearheaded ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed a new client acquisition strategy

⤸

After: Spearheaded• Spearheaded the creation and implementation of a unique client acquisition strategy that increased the client base by 60% in the first quarter.

'Spearheaded' carries a sense of initiative, and mentioning the impressive increase in client base highlights the success of the candidate's strategy.

Replacing Headed with Managed ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed the customer support team

⤸

After: Managed• Managed a multi-tiered customer support team, implementing modifications that improved customer satisfaction rates by 35%.

Using 'Managed' connotes control, and specifying the team type and results gives more insight into the candidate's role and their achievements.

Replacing Headed with Launched ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed a new product campaign

⤸

After: Launched• Launched an engaging product campaign which invigorated sales growth, resulting in a 50% increase in revenue for the following quarter.

'Launched' is a dynamic verb that conveys initiative. Adding specific sales growth elucidates the candidate's successful leadership in campaigns.

Replacing Headed with Directed ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed the customer service team

⤸

After: Directed• Directed a 10-member customer service team, implementing a new training program that improved performance metrics by 20% within six months.

'Directed' suggests authority. Specific details about the training program, improvement in performance, and the timeline make the accomplishment more believable.

Replacing Headed with Operated ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed the operations department

⤸

After: Operated• Operated the Operations Department, introducing several process enhancements that saved the company $2 million in operational costs annually.

By replacing 'Headed' with 'Operated', a sense of active oversight is suggested. Specifying the savings achieved clearly states what the candidate brought to this role.

Replacing Headed with Governed ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed the new policy implementation

⤸

After: Governed• Governed the implementation of company-wide policy changes which led to a 15% decrease in project redundancies and a more streamlined workflow.

'Governed', implies more strategic oversight, while specifying how the policy changes improved workflow gives more insight on the candidate's abilities.

Replacing Headed with Orchestrated ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed the new product launch

⤸

After: Orchestrated• Orchestrated a successful product launch, achieving 75% of the annual sales target in the first three months post-launch.

'Orchestrated' connotes careful planning and execution, and stating a specific success like hitting sales target in such a short time, showcases a successful result.

Replacing Headed with Commanded ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed the sales team

⤸

After: Commanded• Commanded the sales team, shifting to a consultative selling approach which led to a 60% rise in annual revenue.

Replacing 'Headed' with 'Commanded' demonstrates leadership, while outlining the approach change and revenue growth make the accomplishment more substantial.

Replacing Headed with Administered ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed the HR department

⤸

After: Administered• Administered the HR department, developing a new employee appraisal system that led to a 50% rise in employee retention.

'Administered' defines a more precise role, while specific details about the positive effects on employee retention add clarity to the candidate's achievements.

Replacing Headed with Inaugurated ▾

Before: Headed

• Headed the product development initiative

⤸

After: Inaugurated• Inaugurated a new product development process which led to a faster time-to-market and an increase in sales by 35%.

By using 'Inaugurated', a sense of initiative is conveyed. Tying the faster time-to-market to a clear increase in sales highlights the candidate's achievements.

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 Headed.

More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

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

How to use Led on a resume:

• Led a 10-week engagement in a four-member team for a solar energy provider; assessed 30+ locations and provided a recommendation for the most suitable location of their new headquarters.

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 Analyzed on a resume:

• Analyzed private equity firm's historical track record, evaluated performance against public indexes, and validated claims with investors and CEOs, resulting in commitments in excess of $300MM.

How to use Delivered on a resume:

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Headed on a resume?

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

Originated
Approved
Coordinated
Empowered
Elected
Accomplished

What is another way of saying Headed on a resume?

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

Restructured
Nurtured
Appointed
Originated
Influenced
Elected

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