When discussing projects or tasks you've worked on, the verb 'involved' is a great way to show your skills. If you say that you were involved in something, it shows that you're capable of taking the initiative and getting things done. It's important because companies want self-starters who can work independently.
However, the word 'involved' is a weak verb. It doesn't show the action you took to complete your tasks and responsibilities or how you helped your company grow. Instead, it simply describes what you were doing when you were working—you were involved in the process of doing something.
In writing a resume, use action verbs to describe what you actually did. Better words for 'involved,' like 'settled,' 'elaborated,' and 'hosted.' will make your resume more engaging and show off your skills more distinctly.
Power verbs show what you accomplished more clearly than saying that you were involved in something. They also make your resume stand out from others who may have been involved in similar projects but didn't see the same results as yours. They help sell yourself as an asset to a company because they demonstrate that this is what gets results for people like you.
I've compiled some synonyms you can use instead of Involved on your resume, followed by real examples I've written for clients (feel free to use them!).
Resume Synonyms for Involved:
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Revamped
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Mitigated
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Engineered
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Conceptualized
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Modernized
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Spearheaded
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Elevated
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Influenced
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Synchronized
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Cultivated
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Orchestrated
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Maximized
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Invigorated
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Harmonized
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Refined
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Intervened
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Settled
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Elaborated
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Discussed
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Explored
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Probed
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Reviewed
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Scrutinized
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Studied
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Hosted
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Augmented
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Combined
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Enlarged
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Finalized
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Hastened
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Lightened
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Minimized
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Restored
How to replace Involved with a stronger action verb:
Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase, Involved, with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.
Before: Weak example using Involved• Involved in streamlining approval processes
⤸
After: Using a stronger synonym• Streamlined internal approval process for transactions by standardizing approval forms, decreasing approval time by 12 hours.
Before: Involved• Involved in upgrading our IT system
⤸After: Revamped• Revamped our outdated IT system, dramatically increasing processing speeds by 50%, improving productivity across all departments.
In the transformation, I switched out 'Involved' with a more action-oriented word, 'Revamped', that highlights the candidate's role more clearly. The incorporation of metrics and specific outcomes serves to demonstrate the impact and outcome of the candidate's actions, providing a clearer picture of their accomplishments.
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: Involved• Involved in reducing project risks
⤸After: Mitigated• Mitigated potential project risks by implementing a stringent QA process, leading to a 30% decrease in project delays.
The term 'Mitigated' is far more descriptive and impactful, specifying the candidate's role in risk management. Using the term, coupled with quantifiable metrics, gives the work experience more weight and offers a measure of the candidate's effectiveness.
Before: Involved• Involved in the development of a new software solution
⤸After: Engineered• Engineered a proprietary software solution that increased data processing speeds by 40%.
The more potent term 'Engineered' promotes the candidate's active role in creating a new software solution. Including a precise metric (40% increase in speed) shows the ability to significantly impact performance.
Before: Involved• Involved in brainstorming marketing strategies
⤸After: Conceptualized• Conceptualized and executed an innovative marketing campaign, resulting in a 20% increase in market share.
The word 'Conceptualized' showcases the candidate's ability not just to think strategically but to execute as well. The result of the effort, a direct impact on market share, is provided to illustrate real impact.
Before: Involved• Involved in updating company's website
⤸After: Modernized• Modernized company's website user interface, leading to a 25% increase in user engagement and a 30% decrease in bounce rates.
The term 'Modernized' demonstrates an active role in updating the website, and using specific metrics gives an idea of the candidate's effectiveness and the impact of their work.
Before: Involved• Involved in fundraising efforts
⤸After: Spearheaded• Spearheaded fundraising efforts that resulted in over $500,000 in donations, a 35% increase from the previous year.
The term 'Spearheaded' suggests the candidate's leadership capacity and initiative. Coupling this with measurable outcomes underscores their role in successful fundraising and their effectiveness in financial roles.
Before: Involved• Involved in improving customer service strategies
⤸After: Elevated• Elevated the standard of customer service by training team members in new methodologies, leading to a 15% increase in customer satisfaction ratings.
The use of 'Elevated' indicates the candidate's role in bringing about a positive change. The explanation of the methodology change along with an exact metric shows clear results of their efforts.
Before: Involved• Involved in shaping the company's future growth strategies
⤸After: Influenced• Influenced the company's future growth strategies by pioneering a sustainability initiative, driving a 10% increase in sales within the first quarter.
The term 'Influenced' illustrates a more proactive role. I included an exact measure of the strategic initiative's results within a specific timeframe, making the candidate's impact clear and precise.
Before: Involved• Involved in coordinating project timelines
⤸After: Synchronized• Synchronized project timelines and workflows to meet 100% of project deadlines over a 6-month period.
The word 'Synchronized' exhibits the candidate's role in project management. I also included a metric to illustrate their success in meeting deadlines, painting a picture of their skills in a real-world context.
Before: Involved• Involved in building team morale and proficiency
⤸After: Cultivated• Cultivated a diverse and proficient team, reducing onboarding time by 20% and raising productivity by 25%.
The term 'Cultivated' signifies a nourishing role in team building and maintaining a productive environment. The quantified outcomes show not only a reduction in time but also an improvement in overall team productivity.
Before: Involved• Involved in organizing community events
⤸After: Orchestrated• Orchestrated community development events, drawing in over 500 attendees, and raising $20,000 for local schools.
The replacement of 'Involved' with 'Orchestrated' emphasizes the candidate's role in event planning and execution. The specific mention of the number of attendees and funds raised conveys the success of the candidate's efforts.
Before: Involved• Involved in optimizing operations of the supply chain
⤸After: Maximized• Maximized supply chain efficiency by implementing a new inventory system, reducing delivery times by 15%.
The term 'Maximized' is used to depict a proactive role with a focus on improvement. The inclusion of specific success metrics provides a measure of the candidate's proficiency in operation management.
Before: Involved• Involved in the revitalization of the company's brand image
⤸After: Invigorated• Invigorated company's brand image by harnessing social media platforms, resulting in a 60% increase in online followers and a 30% rise in website visits.
The use of 'Invigorated' showcases a transformative role in revitalizing the company's image. The stated results represent the direct impact of the candidate's efforts, providing solid proof of effectiveness.
Before: Involved• Involved in improving department cooperation
⤸After: Harmonized• Harmonized cross-department collaborations, leading to a reduction in project completion time by one week, on average.
The term 'Harmonized' illustrates a proactive role in improving company processes. The clear metrics allow a potential employer to visualize the candidate's capability to enhance cooperation and efficiency across the company.
Before: Involved• Involved in tweaking the product design
⤸After: Refined• Refined the product design using customer feedback, increasing product rating on e-commerce platforms by 4.5 stars.
The word 'Refined' emphasizes the role of the candidate as an active agent of change. The direct impact of the redesign gives the bullet point substance and emphasizes the candidate's customer-oriented approach.
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 Involved.
More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms
How to use Developed on a resume:
• Developed an iPhone app to help medical professionals measure the insulin needs of patients with diabetes.
How to use Enabled on a resume:
• Enabled integration with existing systems by creating tool that extracts metadata from images and provides metadata to a system-wide search database..
How to use Produced on a resume:
• Produced comprehensive pitch decks, used for internal research and external marketing, on 1) an Indian real estate investment with a $4.5B market cap and 2) telecommunications in emerging markets.
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 Performed on a resume:
• Performed DCF analysis to evaluate offers for company's sell-side process; qualitative offer comparison and quantitative model outputs were shared directly with client's senior management team.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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