Resume Synonyms for Motivated

Want another word for Motivated to use on your resume? Our team's compiled the most effective action verbs and synonyms you can use instead of the overused resume phrase, "Motivated".

Kimberley Tyler Smith Author Photo
Compiled by: Kimberley Tyler-Smith
Senior Hiring Manager
20+ Years of Experience

Using the verb 'motivated' in your resume indicates that you are a high achiever. You are passionate about you're job and have a drive for improvement and making things happen. People want to work with someone motivated because they're eager to go above and beyond what's expected of them.

Motivated is the perfect word to show that you're excited about learning new things and taking on challenges. However, if possible, avoid repeating the same term throughout your resume and use a variety of action verbs for your bullet points. Using a word too often can make your resume hard to read, and recruiters will think you don't have many other skills.

Instead, use your resume to exhibit your accomplishments and emphasize what makes you the best candidate for the job! To do this, you can use other words for 'motivated,' like 'drove,' 'empowered,' or 'propelled.'

By using a diversity of power verbs to highlight your skills and accomplishments, you'll avoid the appearance of being repetitive while still showcasing all that you can do.

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

Resume Synonyms for Motivated:

  • Appraised
  • Assigned
  • Supervised
  • Delegated
  • Groomed
  • Mentored
  • Empowered
  • Unified
  • Propelled
  • Impelled
  • Drove
  • Led
  • Stimulated
  • Boosted
  • Galvanized

How to replace Motivated with a stronger action verb:

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

Before: Weak example using Motivated

Motivated and hardworking individual, with strong experience conducting interviews, collecting feedback and formulating requirements

After: Using a stronger synonymLed interview campaign with existing customers (300+ person survey, 40+ face-to-face discussions) to formulate requirements of a new product to help couples manage their expenses; outputs directly impacted product roadmap.

Replacing Motivated with Initiated

Before: Motivated

Motivated sales team to achieve company objectives

After: InitiatedInitiated and led a weekly goal-setting workshop with the sales team that increased their quarterly targets achievement by 18%

This change is important because it shows a specific action the job seeker took, 'weekly goal-setting workshop', instead of a vague 'motivated'. By noting 'increased their quarterly targets achievement by 18%', it directly demonstrates the impact of the candidate's 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.


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 Motivated.


More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

How to use Created on a resume:

Created content and copy for social media channels (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) and email newsletter; assessed customer response to create targeted messaging and inform future content; social media following grew 125%+ organically.

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 Developed on a resume:

Developed strategies to trade and manage risk on the trading book comprising 30+ indices; 2016 P&L: $8M.

How to use Led on a resume:

Led training and peer-mentoring programs for the incoming class of 25 analysts in 2012; developed and maintained training program to reduce onboarding time for new hires by 50%.

How to use Conducted on a resume:

Conducted private equity due diligence in $400M portfolio. Performed strategic and analytical valuation of assets based on interviews with experts and created extensive models of the industries; persuaded client to move forward with acquisition.

How to use Analyzed on a resume:

Analyzed company's 24-month sales results to develop five-year monthly projections by revenue and customer type.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Motivated on a resume?

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

  • Stimulated
  • Groomed
  • Mentored
  • Delegated
  • Boosted
  • Led

What can I use instead of Motivated on a resume?

Instead of passive phrases like Motivated, use other words like Delegated, Boosted, Assigned, Unified, Galvanized or Empowered. Using these verbs will help your accomplishments and bullet points stand out on your resume.


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

Hiring managers are unnecessarily picky when it comes to resumes, and it's hard to know what they want to see. That's why you should upload your resume to the free resume checker below. It'll check your bullet points and identify any mistakes on your resume that recruiters specifically look out for.



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