With 'improved' as a verb in your resume, you're letting employers know you have the skills they need to help them succeed. It's a word that shows you can take something and make it better. For example, a manager who improves a company's productivity or profitability is someone worth hiring.
Demonstrating that you've taken on new tasks or responsibilities and excelled at them using the verb 'improved' is a great way to show your potential employer that you're ready for more responsibility. However, avoid the repeated use of this word as it will make your resume seem dull—so only use it once as much as possible when describing your achievements.
To keep away from this problem, use another word for 'improved.' For instance, instead of saying 'Improved process efficiency,' you could say 'Maximized process effectiveness.'
By using synonyms, you provide an alternative action verb to express the same idea. They allow you to create an exciting sentence that lets you be more specific about what you did. They also give your resume a level of variety that makes it easier to read, which can help an employer remember your name when they're looking through all the other resumes they receive.
I've compiled some synonyms you can use instead of Improved on your resume, followed by real examples I've written for clients (feel free to use them!).
Resume Synonyms for Improved:
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Elevated
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Advanced
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Rectified
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Optimized
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Refined
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Progressed
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Cultivated
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Amplified
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Fortified
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Expedited
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Augmented
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Broadened
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Modernized
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Diversified
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Consolidated
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Intensified
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Simplified
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Pioneered
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Enriched
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Honed
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Embellished
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Exceeded
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Outperformed
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Galvanized
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Bolstered
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Revised
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Customized
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Revitalized
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Shaped
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Remodeled
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Repaired
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Systematized
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Accelerated
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Boosted
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Enhanced
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Expanded
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Increased
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Maximized
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Outpaced
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Perfected
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Reformed
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Renovated
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Revamped
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Skyrocketed
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Transformed
How to replace Improved with a stronger action verb:
Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase, Improved, with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.
Before: Weak example using Improved• Improved user interface of app
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After: Using a stronger synonym• Analyzed impact and effectiveness of in-app UI changes on customer retention, identified features of customer behavior and recommended additional menu modifications; Decreased uninstallation rate by 40%.
Before: Improved• Improved sales pitch
⤸After: Elevated• Elevated the company's sales pitch by incorporating compelling storytelling and data-driven insights, leading to a 25% boost in sales conversions.
By adding specifics such as 'storytelling' and 'data-driven insights', a once vague resume statement now contains solid details. The terms 'Elevated' and 'boosted' provide a much stronger and tangible impression of the impact he or she had.
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: Improved• Improved website performance
⤸After: Advanced• Advanced website performance by integrating efficient code and reducing image sizes — saw a 30% increase in site speed and 45% increase in time-on-page.
As a recruiter, specific details like measures of success are key. The use of 'Advanced' instead of 'Improved' shows action and forward motion, which gives a more dynamic image of the candidate's accomplishments.
Before: Improved• Improved production mistakes
⤸After: Rectified• Rectified production mistakes by implementing a rigorous quality control process that decreased defects by 40% and increased overall product quality.
To improve this bullet point, I made sure we were more specific about the mitigating actions carried out and the task's overall achievement. By using 'Rectified,' the candidate seems proactive and highlights problem-solving skills.
Before: Improved• Improved team workflow
⤸After: Optimized• Optimized the team's workflow through the introduction of agile methodologies, which resulted in completing projects 20% faster and increased overall team productivity.
What I like about this change is how specific it is about the introduced strategies. 'Optimized' is a powerful action verb that indicates a thoughtful, effective approach to improvement.
Before: Improved• Improved customer service level
⤸After: Refined• Refined the customer service protocol, implementing a new CRM system and creating a follow-up policy, resulting in a 35% growth in customer satisfaction scores.
In replacing 'improved' with 'refined,' this statement now emphasizes the candidate's ability to polish and hone systems to better meet stakeholder needs. Providing a quantifiable result solidifies the impact of this refinement.
Before: Improved• Improved merchandise display
⤸After: Progressed• Progressed the merchandise display by utilizing retail design principles, resulting in a 30% increase in in-store purchases.
As a recruiter, the use of 'Progressed' instead of 'Improved' reflects both the journey and achievement in the candidate's task, while adding a numeric metric to visualize the outcome strengthens the claim.
Before: Improved• Improved team collaboration
⤸After: Cultivated• Cultivated a more cohesive team environment by implementing weekly brainstorming sessions, leading to a 15% increase in project completion rate.
I chose 'Cultivated' to show the candidate as nurturing growth and collaboration within their team. Including specific actions and their results make an impact on the hiring manager.
Before: Improved• Improved online presence
⤸After: Amplified• Amplified the company's online presence by strategizing and executing a comprehensive SEO plan, leading to a 60% increase in organic website traffic.
Using 'Amplified' enhances the statement by implying that not only was an improvement made, but it significantly increased the company's visibility. The specific strategy and result given add credibility.
Before: Improved• Improved data security
⤸After: Fortified• Fortified data security measures by introducing an advanced encryption system, successfully reducing data breach incidents by 70%.
By removing the overused term 'Improved,' and replacing it with 'Fortified' and giving a metric to what was done, the candidate's accomplishment is both quantifiable and impactful.
Before: Improved• Improved order fulfillment process
⤸After: Expedited• Expedited the order fulfillment process by implementing automated inventory management, reducing processing time by 40%.
The choice of 'Expedited' and specific changes, coupled with the tangible results in the form of time saved, create a story of the candidate's efficiency and results-oriented nature.
Before: Improved• Improved production speed
⤸After: Augmented• Augmented the production speed by redesigning the assembly line process which led to a productivity increase of 30%.
In swapping 'Improved' with 'Augmented', the sentence now has a more impactful verb to highlight better the significant accomplishment. Meanwhile, the inclusion of a metric gives recruiters a clear sense of the scale of this candidate's contributions.
Before: Improved• Improved product offerings
⤸After: Broadened• Broadened the product offerings by identifying market needs and introducing five new products that led to a 40% increase in sales.
To improve this bullet point, the word 'Broadened' emphasizes the candidate's initiative to identify a market gap and take steps to seize the opportunity. Including a specific number of products introduced and the resultant sales effect, gives a clearer picture of the impact.
Before: Improved• Improved IT systems
⤸After: Modernized• Modernized the company's IT infrastructure by implementing cloud-based solutions that resulted in a 25% reduction in system downtime.
Replacing 'Improved' with 'Modernized' changes the narrative altogether. Now, the candidate is seen as someone who keeps up to date with technological advancements, which is crucial in an IT related field. The subsequent result quantifies the contribution impacting system efficiency.
Before: Improved• Improved company portfolio
⤸After: Diversified• Diversified company portfolio by introducing 4 new services, which increased the company revenue by 18% within 12 months.
The use of 'Diversified' instead of 'Improved' provides a more vivid insight into the variety introduced in the portfolio. The number of new services and the revenue impact makes the candidate seem competent and effective.
Before: Improved• Improved company records
⤸After: Consolidated• Consolidated company records by implementing digitization and cloud storage strategies, reducing retrieval time by 35%.
What I like about this change was replacing 'Improved' with 'Consolidated' to show a specific, beneficial adjustment. Then, by adding a metric, we give a quantifiable representation of the reduction in retrieval time.
Before: Improved• Improved sales results
⤸After: Intensified• Intensified sales results by implementing targeted marketing campaigns, boosting quarterly sales by 22%.
In replacing 'Improved' with 'Intensified', the statement turns from bland and generic into a unique narrative that reflects strategic thinking and action, thereby painting a more attractive image of the candidate.
Before: Improved• Improved process complexity
⤸After: Simplified• Simplified process complexity by eliminating redundant steps in the assembly line process, thus increasing overall productivity by 28%.
'Simplified' is a much more effective action verb in this context as it emphasizes the candidate's solution-centered approach. Presenting the specific outcome in numbers further provides the dimension of scale to the improvement.
Before: Improved• Improved the overall strategy
⤸After: Pioneered• Pioneered a revamped strategy that led to a significant change in user behavior and a 15% increase in user retention in the first quarter.
I like the use of 'Pioneered' instead of 'Improved' because it underscores the candidate's leadership and innovation. It not only tells what they did, but also the precise outcomes, thus becoming far more persuasive.
Before: Improved• Improved software functionality
⤸After: Enriched• Enriched software functionality by introducing two user-friendly features, leading to an uptick in user engagement by 20%.
By swapping 'Improved' with 'Enriched', this bullet indicates strategic enhancement. Providing the quantifiable user engagement result gives a clearer insight into the impact.
Before: Improved• Improved customer support
⤸After: Honed• Honed customer support by initiating comprehensive training and performance metrics for the support team, resulting in a 30% decrease in customer complaints.
The new verb 'Honed' gives a sense of precision and expertise in the candidate's approach to improvement. Also, stating specific measures taken and their respective impact makes the resume much more effective.
Before: Improved• Improved design aesthetic
⤸After: Embellished• Embellished the design aesthetic by incorporating minimalistic and user-centric visuals, increasing user interaction time by 35%.
The choice of 'Embellished' over'Improved emphasizes that the candidate added specific details that drew attention. The specific design style and its effect on interaction time showcases a candidate with a clear understanding of user preferences.
Before: Improved• Improved sales targets
⤸After: Exceeded• Exceeded sales targets by leveraging customer feedback for product positioning, achieving a 55% increase in sales over last quarter.
'Exceeded' emphasizes the surpassing of the established goal and displays a high level of performance. By providing a specific strategy and metric, we give a vivid impression of the positive impact.
Before: Improved• Improved performance metrics
⤸After: Outperformed• Outperformed previous performance metrics by implementing a data-driven decision-making approach, resulting in a 20% increase in team efficiency.
By replacing 'Improved' with 'Outperformed,' this bullet sounds more dynamic and exceeds just mere improvements. Using specific strategies and capturing their quantitative impact gives concrete evidence of success.
Before: Improved• Improved team motivation
⤸After: Galvanized• Galvanized team motivation by restructuring reward system, effectively improving employee satisfaction by 18% based on a yearly survey.
The term 'Galvanized' highlights the candidate's ability to inspire action, which is a desirable quality in any role. Accompanying the term with a specific action and its measured result, provides an attractive highlight of the candidate's ability.
Before: Improved• Improved financial performance
⤸After: Bolstered• Bolstered financial performance by negotiating better terms with suppliers, leading to a reduction in operational costs by 12%.
By swapping 'Improved' with 'Bolstered' and adding a number, the candidate's accomplishment becomes not only more tangible but also presents a clear strategy used to achieve the result.
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 Improved.
More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms
How to use Collaborate on a resume:
• Collaborate with developers and product management team to assess project outcomes and prioritize future app features.
How to use Evaluated on a resume:
• Evaluated strategies and synergies surrounding potential acquisition targets for a major car manufacturer..
How to use Optimized on a resume:
• Optimized $100MM+ retail company's advertising spend by media type through multivariable regression analysis; exceeded target growth by 15%.
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 Designed on a resume:
• Designed and implemented an automated system for processing employee timesheets, eliminating the need for manual handwritten timesheets and resulted in a 10/hr per week time saving.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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