The verb 'made' is used in resumes to show the recruiter that you have a creative mind and the ability to bring ideas to fruition. It indicates that you were the creator of something rather than simply participating in an activity.

This is a great verb to use if you've ever managed or led a team because it shows your ability to find solutions and get people working together towards a common goal. However, this verb is not the best choice if you're trying to emphasize your skills and accomplishments—instead of showing the recruiter how much work you did on a project, it simply states that something was done in the past.

To fix this problem, you should use synonyms in place of the generic verb 'made.' It can be replaced with more specific verbs such as 'created,' 'established,' or 'instituted.' For example, instead of saying that you 'made' a new algorithm, say that you 'created' a new algorithm. This way, your resume will be more descriptive of your work experience.

Using power verbs is essential because the stronger the verb, the more specific your accomplishments will appear. If you use generic verbs, your resume will seem vague and unimpressive.

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

Resume Synonyms for Made:

Formulated
Designed
Pioneered
Acquired
Maximized
Optimized
Streamlined
Initiated
Enhanced
Revamped
Generated
Created
Invented
Fabricated
Manufactured
Assembled
Built
Constructed
Erected
Crafted
Molded
Shaped
Originated
Established
Instituted
Conceived
Gained
Catalyzed
Perpetrated
Executed
Fulfilled

How to replace Made with a stronger action verb:

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

Before: Weak example using Made

• Made a new knowledge base for employees so they can find information

⤸

After: Using a stronger synonym• Created knowledge base of 80 internal resources, improving employee onboarding and reducing time spent per project on administrative tasks by 40%.

Replacing Made with Formulated ▾

Before: Made

• Made a plan for team collaboration

⤸

After: Formulated• Formulated a comprehensive communication plan that increased team collaboration by 30%, leading to higher project completion rates

As a hiring manager, I replaced the vague 'Made' with 'Formulated' to denote thoughtfulness and intent. I also quantified the impact by including an increased collaboration metric. This change demonstrates the direct impact of your action.

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 Made with Designed ▾

Before: Made

• Made an outreach strategy for customers

⤸

After: Designed• Designed a customer outreach strategy leading to an increase in customer engagement by 25% and new sign-ups by 10% over six months

The changes reflect the creativity implied by 'Designed' and emphasize how a strategy you created impacted key business metrics. It's not only about making an impact, but how you made it, so don't overlook the action verb used.

Replacing Made with Pioneered ▾

Before: Made

• Made an employee wellness program

⤸

After: Pioneered• Pioneered an employee wellness program boosting employee retention by 15% and reducing sick day counts by 20% within a year

By using 'Pioneered', I've emphasized the novelty and leadership of the initiative. Quantifying the impact gives an idea of the significance of the task. Always think about what the verb you choose communicates about you.

Replacing Made with Acquired ▾

Before: Made

• Made new business leads

⤸

After: Acquired• Acquired 150+ new business leads within a quarter through strategic networking and targeted outreach

I made changes from 'Made' into 'Acquired' to indicate the hustle and strategy that goes into business development. Including a concrete number of leads gives a clear, impressive accomplishment.

Replacing Made with Maximized ▾

Before: Made

• Made efficiency improvements to the supply chain

⤸

After: Maximized• Maximized supply chain efficiency to reduce operating costs by 18% and increased revenue by $500K within a fiscal year

The new action verb 'Maximized' highlights strategic planning and optimization skills. Showing tangible numerical improvements provides a clear picture of the level of your contribution.

Replacing Made with Optimized ▾

Before: Made

• Made the website user-friendly

⤸

After: Optimized• Optimized the company's website UI/UX, enhancing user experience, and catalyzing a rise in daily visitor count by 35%

As a recruiter, using the term 'Optimized' indicates specificity and knowledge about digital tech and UX, while metrics give a sense of the effectiveness of the described action.

Replacing Made with Streamlined ▾

Before: Made

• Made the hiring process more efficient

⤸

After: Streamlined• Streamlined the hiring process, slashing time-to-hire by 15% and cutting recruitment costs by 30%

Replacing 'Made' with 'Streamlined' speaks to your proficiency in optimizing processes. Also, the inclusion of results-oriented metrics underscores your ability to effect real workplace efficiencies.

Replacing Made with Initiated ▾

Before: Made

• Made a series of new partnerships

⤸

After: Initiated• Initiated strategic partnerships with 10 industry-leading companies, expanding the company's market reach by 30% in one year

By using 'Initiated' instead of 'Made', it emphasizes your authoritative and proactive approach. Also, attaching concrete numbers to your past success shows your measurable contribution to the company.

Replacing Made with Enhanced ▾

Before: Made

• Made improvements in customer service

⤸

After: Enhanced• Enhanced customer service protocols, increasing customer satisfaction by 40% and reducing customer complaints by 25%

'Made improvements' is vague and doesn't show the effort put into the task. 'Enhanced' gives a clearer picture and stresses how your work significantly impacted the company, resulting in a happier clientele.

Replacing Made with Revamped ▾

Before: Made

• Made changes to the company blog

⤸

After: Revamped• Revamped the company blog, improving the site traffic by 50% and boosting ad revenue by $10,000 per month

I replaced 'Made changes' with 'Revamped', showcasing a powerful transformation that led to quantifiable and positive outcomes, which hiring managers would find impressive.

Replacing Made with Generated ▾

Before: Made

• Made a new sales strategy

⤸

After: Generated• Generated a transformative sales strategy that increased quarterly sales volume by 45% and annual profits by $1.2 million

The new action verb 'Generated' illustrates innovativeness and expertise. By providing specific, quantifiable results, your contributions and capabilities are highlighted in a meaningful way.

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 Made.

More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

How to use Created on a resume:

• Created and maintained models for M&A plans, Discounted Cash Flow Analysis, Product SVA Analysis, Credit Risk Assessment Models, and Common Stock Liquidity Comparisons.

How to use Analyzed on a resume:

• Analyzed 1500+ responses to a consumer survey to evaluate brand perception and customers' willingness to pay.

How to use Performed on a resume:

• Performed financial analysis to evaluate public and private financing alternatives to strengthen client's balance sheet.

How to use Implemented on a resume:

• Implemented crash reporter and used findings to fix three biggest causes of crashes; fixes reduced customer support calls by 30%.

How to use Led on a resume:

• Led multi-disciplinary 7 person team to design, develop, and launch online e-commerce store; prioritized and resolved 45+ new features and bug fixes.

How to use Designed, on a resume:

• Designed, executed, and optimized digital marketing campaign on Google's AdWords for $20B CPG company, yielding 20% ROI improvements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Made on a resume?

Below are some alternative words and synonyms to add to your resume instead of Made:

Gained
Shaped
Fulfilled
Manufactured
Conceived
Originated

What can I say instead of Made on a resume?

Here are some synonyms for commonly repeated words, like Made, I see on resumes:

Manufactured
Molded
Instituted
Fulfilled
Shaped
Established

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