To write a winning resume, you must use words that will communicate your skills and experience to the recruiter reading it. The present-tense verb 'make' shows an ability to produce results, which can appeal to employers who want proof that the person they hire will be able to make crucial decisions once on the job.

When you use 'make' in your resume, you're likely trying to convey that you're a doer, but it's not enough. The problem with using 'make' is that it's ambiguous and non-specific: it fails to specify what you've actually accomplished or made. Also, when writing about your past achievements, it's best to use the past tense of a verb (such as 'made').

Instead of 'make,' use power verbs like 'manufactured,' 'forged,' or 'actualized.' These more descriptive words will show how you did your work and help create an image in the reader's mind about what kind of person your resume describes—someone who is proactive.

When you use a power verb, it gives your resume more energy and conveys an overall sense of progress. Power verbs also make it easier to see what kind of work you've been doing because they're specific (like 'manufactured,' where 'made' isn't).

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

Resume Synonyms for Make:

Engineered
Invented
Devised
Produced
Generated
Pioneered
Transformed
Originated
Actualized
Established
Developed
Constructed
Implemented
Formulated
Arranged
Fostered
Delivered
Instigated
Masterminded
Revitalized
Confected
Fabricated
Drafted
Framed
Molded
Conceptualized
Customized
Fashioned
Forged
Manufactured
Modeled
Erected
Structured
Raised
Catalyzed
Started
Actualized
Effectuated
Compelled
Inaugurated

How to replace Make with a stronger action verb:

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

Before: Weak example using Make

• Made website and marketing plan for my employer

⤸

After: Using a stronger synonym• Re-designed website and developed social media marketing plan; increased total membership by 28% and social media followers by 17%.

Replacing Make with Engineered ▾

Before: Make

• Made a process improvement report for the team

⤸

After: Engineered• Engineered a process improvement strategy by conducting rigorous team audits that boosted efficiency by 23%

Adding 'Engineered' instead of 'Made' gives the impact of the candidate's contribution. Plus, precise stats like 'boosted efficiency by 23%' adds credibility and clearly highlights the result of their effort.

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 Make with Invented ▾

Before: Make

• Made an automation software for the company

⤸

After: Invented• Invented a unique automation software that improved productivity by 45%, saving the company 10 hours of manual work per week

The verb 'Invented' shows creativity and innovation. Quantifying the benefit positions the candidate as someone who can contribute tangible results.

Replacing Make with Devised ▾

Before: Make

• Made a plan for the sales strategy

⤸

After: Devised• Devised a robust sales plan that sparked a 20% revenue increase in Q1 2022

By replacing 'Made' with 'Devised', it emphasizes the strategic thought put into the plan. The specificity in the results provides solid proof of the candidate’s impact.

Replacing Make with Produced ▾

Before: Make

• Made a new design for the company's blog

⤸

After: Produced• Produced an innovative blog design that escalated visitor engagement by 35% while decreasing bounce rate by 12%

Altering 'Made' to 'Produced' highlights the candidate’s active role, and detailing the exact positive results enhances the strength of the claim.

Replacing Make with Generated ▾

Before: Make

• Made a new fundraising campaign

⤸

After: Generated• Generated a successful fundraising campaign that attracted $5M in donations and increased patron participation by 30%

Shifting 'Made' to 'Generated' portrays the candidate’s initiative and the success achieved. The impactful metrics demonstrate the result of their efforts.

Replacing Make with Pioneered ▾

Before: Make

• Made a new online marketing initiative

⤸

After: Pioneered• Pioneered a contemporary online marketing strategy which drove a 25% increase in web traffic and boosted sales by 18%

Using 'Pioneered' in place of 'Made' reflects innovation and leadership. The specification of the rise in web traffic and sales creates a strong impression of accomplishment.

Replacing Make with Transformed ▾

Before: Make

• Made the customer service process better

⤸

After: Transformed• Transformed the existing customer service process, leading to a 30% improvement in customer satisfaction and a 15% decrease in ticket resolution time

Substituting 'Made' with 'Transformed' emphasizes a notable positive change. Adding precise metrics solidifies the candidate’s impact on customer service improvement.

Replacing Make with Originated ▾

Before: Make

• Made a handbook for new hires

⤸

After: Originated• Originated a comprehensive onboarding handbook, decreasing new hires' ramp-up time by 50%

Replacing 'Made' with 'Originated' highlights the candidate’s proactive attitude. The result effectively communicates the contribution of the candidate’s work.

Replacing Make with Actualized ▾

Before: Make

• Made a customer retention strategy

⤸

After: Actualized• Actualized an efficient customer retention strategy, resulting in a repeat customer rate increase of 18%

Using 'Actualized' instead of 'Made' gives more weight to the accomplishment. The precise statistic demonstrates the strategy’s effectiveness.

Replacing Make with Established ▾

Before: Make

• Made a system for order tracking

⤸

After: Established• Established an advanced order tracking system that improved order accuracy by 25% and reduced delivery times by 20%

Replacing 'Made' with 'Established' emphasizes the lasting impact of the candidate’s initiative. The specific metrics provide a clear picture of the achievement.

Replacing Make with Developed ▾

Before: Make

• Made software to streamline workflow

⤸

After: Developed• Developed an all-in-one workflow software which eradicated wasteful tasks and increased team proficiency by 33%

Choosing 'Developed' over 'Made' specifies the candidate's creation was technical in nature. Also, mentioning the exact increase in proficiency depicts the candidate’s significant positive effect.

Replacing Make with Constructed ▾

Before: Make

• Made a new operational model for the business

⤸

After: Constructed• Constructed a scalable operational model, catalyzing a 15% cost reduction and an increase in process efficiency by 20%

Replacing 'Made' with 'Constructed' conveys a sense of building something substantial. The numeric outcome presents a clear outcome that shows the candidate’s impact.

Replacing Make with Implemented ▾

Before: Make

• Made a plan for software updates

⤸

After: Implemented• Implemented a systematic plan for regular software updates, which resulted in 40% fewer system downtimes

Implementing rather than 'making' a plan shows active engagement in the process. Mentioning a reduction in system downtimes quantifies the candidate’s effectiveness.

Replacing Make with Formulated ▾

Before: Make

• Made a new PR strategy

⤸

After: Formulated• Formulated a bespoke PR strategy that catapulted brand visibility by 45% in key markets

Using 'Formulated' instead of 'Made' brings a sense of calculated, strategic planning. The exact increase in brand visibility demonstrates the success of their efforts.

Replacing Make with Arranged ▾

Before: Make

• Made a corporate seminar

⤸

After: Arranged• Arranged a high-impact corporate seminar attended by 500+ industry professionals, fostering widespread recognition

Switching 'Made' with 'Arranged' lends precision to the candidate’s role. Numerically indicating the attendance validates the event's success and implies influential networking potential.

Replacing Make with Fostered ▾

Before: Make

• Made a team building initiative

⤸

After: Fostered• Fostered a dynamic team-building initiative, leading to a 15% increase in overall team cohesion and productivity

Replacing 'Made' with 'Fostered' underscores the nurturing and development aspect of leadership. The specified increase in cohesion and productivity provides measurable outcomes.

Replacing Make with Delivered ▾

Before: Make

• Made a plan to increase customer satisfaction

⤸

After: Delivered• Delivered a customer satisfaction plan, resulting in a 20% rise in positive reviews and a 10% increase in repeat customers

The word 'Delivered' implies accomplishment rather than mere creation. Metrics on improved reviews and repeat customers show the direct benefit of the candidate's work.

Replacing Make with Instigated ▾

Before: Make

• Made changes to the work schedule

⤸

After: Instigated• Instigated a flexible work schedule leading to a 20% decrease in absenteeism and an improvement in employee happiness by 25%

Replacing 'Made' with 'Instigated' lends a proactive and positive connotation. Measurable impacts on absenteeism and employee happiness adds concrete evidences to the statement.

Replacing Make with Masterminded ▾

Before: Make

• Made a strategy to cut costs

⤸

After: Masterminded• Masterminded an effective cost-cutting strategy that slashed expenditure by 30% without compromising on product quality

The term 'Masterminded' suggests detailed planning and leadership. Highlighting the impact on cost reduction and product quality quantifies the candidate’s effectiveness.

Replacing Make with Revitalized ▾

Before: Make

• Made improvements to website design

⤸

After: Revitalized• Revitalized the company website design, leading to 35% higher user engagement and a 15% increase in daily site visits

By using 'Revitalized' over 'Made', the candidate is seen as someone capable of refreshing strategies. Clear, numerical success indicators firmly establish the candidate’s ability to drive improvements.

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 Make.

More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

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 Pitched on a resume:

• Pitched 25+ stocks to the investment team and portfolio managers, resulting in the addition of 6 stocks to the firm's portfolio with investment returns of more than 15% in 12 months.

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 Analyzed on a resume:

• Analyzed brand's pricing, advertising and distribution data and identified seasonal trends and white space by integrating consumer insights; recommended strategic changes in portfolio and marketing plan to C-suite executives, reversing sales slump (+6.5%).

How to use Developed on a resume:

• Developed and maintained ETL scripts in Python and Perl to scrape data from external web sites into a mySQL database..

How to use Led on a resume:

• Led team of six analysts towards saving client 10MM USD; acted as Engagement Manager by managing relationships with senior client stakeholders.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Make on a resume?

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

Drafted
Erected
Modeled
Molded
Forged
Actualized

What is a better word for Make on a resume?

You can say Inaugurated, Fabricated or Catalyzed instead of Make.

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

If you have a version of your resume ready, remember to get it checked using our free resume scanner below. It will make sure all your action verbs are strong enough, and give you feedback on any mistakes you might have overlooked, so you can fix them before a recruiter sees them.

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