To make sure your resume speaks volumes about you and gets noticed by hiring managers, it must be carefully crafted. In order to do this, use a great verb like obtain to show that you can accomplish goals and meet your employer's expectations—that you'll do whatever it takes to get the job done.

It's important to show hiring managers how capable you are of obtaining your goals. However, using the present-tense verb 'obtain' repeatedly in your resume can make it sound like you're listing off tasks or responsibilities or that you're not very good at communicating your accomplishments.

To prevent this from happening, use synonyms. It's also a good practice to write using the verb's past tense ('obtained') in itemizing your past achievements. Instead of 'obtain,' use other words like 'acquired,' 'negotiated,' and 'realized.' These synonyms communicate that you have a track record of success.

Using synonyms allows you to choose the word that best communicates what you want to say, which helps recruiters reading your resume understand it more clearly. It also helps you stay focused on the content of your resume—telling employers that you have the ability to get things done, even when there are obstacles or challenges.

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

Resume Synonyms for Obtain:

Secured
Invested
Retained
Annexed
Bagged
Earned
Drew
Enlisted
Selected
Generated
Sustained
Fostered
Achieved
Influenced
Expanded
Directed
Commandeered
Increased
Cultivated
Acquired
Earned
Collected
Procured
Negotiated
Recruited
Captured
Gained
Garnered
Awarded
Gathered
Realized
Won
Scored
Accumulated
Purchased
Retrieved

How to replace Obtain with a stronger action verb:

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

Before: Weak example using Obtain

• Obtained a promotion for successfully managing hundreds of purchase orders

⤸

After: Using a stronger synonym• Received an early promotion by successfully executing the placement, management and data entry process for 700 purchase orders in 3 countries..

Replacing Obtain with Secured ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained equipment for the lab.

⤸

After: Secured• Secured cutting-edge lab equipment under tight budget constraints, ultimately boosting research capacity by 25%.

By replacing 'Obtained' with 'Secured', it highlights the contribution of the candidate in overcoming obstacles to achieve goals. The percentage increase in research capacity attests to the candidate's ability to deliver impactful results.

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 Obtain with Invested ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained company stocks as a part of the employee program.

⤸

After: Invested• Invested in significant company stocks through the employee program, experiencing a 25% return within the first year.

Here, I replaced 'Obtained' with 'Invested', which immediately communicates the idea of strategic placement of money, not merely acquiring something. Also, by quantifying the return on investment, we highlight the effectiveness of this decision.

Replacing Obtain with Retained ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained a consistent client base as an account manager.

⤸

After: Retained• Retained 98% of my client base in a highly competitive market by utilizing a results-driven management strategy.

As a recruiter, I love the switch of 'Obtained' to 'Retained', putting the emphasis on keeping existing customers rather than just gaining new ones. The high retention rate and mention of competition show both the value the candidate brings and the impact they had.

Replacing Obtain with Annexed ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained new territories for the sales team.

⤸

After: Annexed• Annexed 5 underrepresented territories, increasing the sales team's influence by 20% and generating a revenue uplift of $500k in the first quarter.

So, instead of vague 'Obtained', I used 'Annexed' emphasizing the strategic move made. Then, highlighting the outcome in a measurable way magnifies the effort taken and the positive result achieved.

Replacing Obtain with Bagged ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained a new contract with a major client.

⤸

After: Bagged• Bagged a $2M contract with an industry-leading client, setting a new record for the largest sales account in the company's history.

'Bagged' replaces 'Obtained' with more enthusiasm, and the precise nature of the achievement, including its size and historic significance, validates the professional's high-performance claims.

Replacing Obtain with Earned ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained certifications relevant to the job.

⤸

After: Earned• Earned highly coveted industry certifications, propelling me to the top 5% of professionals in my field.

Replacement of 'Obtained' with 'Earned' stresses effort and achievement. The specific impact helps recruiters understand how this sets the candidate apart.

Replacing Obtain with Drew ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained leads for the sales team.

⤸

After: Drew• Drew in over 500 new, quality leads within the first quarter, leading to a 30% increase in conversions.

'Drew' implies an active fetching process, not just a passive receive. The increase in conversions gives a tangible result of the effort put into drawing leads.

Replacing Obtain with Enlisted ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained volunteers for the project.

⤸

After: Enlisted• Enlisted over 50 skilled volunteers within a week, providing the manpower needed to complete a community service project 15% ahead of schedule.

To replace 'Obtained ', ‘Enlisted' implies strategic and persuasive skills. The addition of numbers, timeframe and outcome, further paints a vivid picture of the accomplishment.

Replacing Obtain with Selected ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained items on shopping list for the company event.

⤸

After: Selected• Selected and procured budget-friendly, high-quality items for a company event catering to over 500 attendees, yielding a 30% budget savings.

I replaced 'Obtained' with 'Selected' to emphasize the candidate's role in choosing the items. The savings number gives tangible proof of success and efficiency.

Replacing Obtain with Generated ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained ideas for the business development.

⤸

After: Generated• Generated innovative ideas and strategies that boosted business development efforts, resulting in a 25% increase in client acquisition.

Replacing 'Obtained' with 'Generated', demonstrates personal initiative. A precise metric demonstrates the scale and impact of candidate’s contribution to the organization.

Replacing Obtain with Sustained ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained positive feedback from my team.

⤸

After: Sustained• Sustained high performance standards, garnering consistent positive feedback and achieving a 95% satisfaction rating from my team.

Replacing 'Obtained' with 'Sustained' shifts the focus from a passive recipient of good feedback to a proactive driver of high standards. The specific metric gives credibility to the claims.

Replacing Obtain with Fostered ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained good relationships with clients.

⤸

After: Fostered• Fostered strong relationships with 200+ clients, leading to a 30% increase in repeat business and favorable online reviews.

Instead of merely 'Obtaining' good relationships, 'Fostered' suggests cultivation and development. Quantifying the result underscores the significance of this action.

Replacing Obtain with Achieved ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained a growth in sales.

⤸

After: Achieved• Achieved unprecedented 40% sales growth in FY 20XX, outpacing industry average by 15%.

By changing 'Obtained' to 'Achieved', we convey proactive action. The strong metrics show significant impact and provides a useful comparison to the industry standard.

Replacing Obtain with Influenced ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained implementation of the new software system.

⤸

After: Influenced• Influenced the implementation of a new software system, improving productivity by 35% and saving over 500 man-hours annually.

Replacing 'Obtained' with 'Influenced' shows the candidate's role in spearheading change. Quantifying the advantages of this change demonstrates the successful outcome.

Replacing Obtain with Expanded ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained new clients for the company.

⤸

After: Expanded• Expanded the company's client roster by 30% in FY2019, increasing revenue by $1M.

Swapping 'obtained' with 'expanded' makes the action feel more deliberate and impactful. Furthermore, the included metrics bring clarity and prove the candidate’s ability to understand and influence business finances.

Replacing Obtain with Directed ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained approvals for new procedures.

⤸

After: Directed• Directed a campaign to get crucial approvals for streamlining procedures, reducing processing time by 20%.

By replacing 'obtained' with 'directed', the bullet point now reflects initiative, leadership and strategic communication skills. References to concrete improvements in efficiency reinforce the candidate’s value.

Replacing Obtain with Commandeered ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained resources for project completion.

⤸

After: Commandeered• Commandeered resources effectively, expediting project completion by two weeks and saving approximately $15K in operational costs.

I replaced 'obtained' with 'commandeered’ to highlight leadership and resource management skills. The specific metrics indicate the impact of the candidate’s decisions on time and budget.

Replacing Obtain with Increased ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained high-quality leads for the marketing team.

⤸

After: Increased• Increased high-value lead generation by 40%, contributing to a 15% increase in net revenue within Q2.

The reframing from 'obtained' to 'increased' demonstrates a proactive, results-oriented approach. By detailing the quantity and importance of the leads, as well as the resultant revenue increase, the claim becomes compelling and quantifiable.

Replacing Obtain with Cultivated ▾

Before: Obtain

• Obtained a strong internal network within the company.

⤸

After: Cultivated• Cultivated a robust internal network across three company divisions, fostering collaborative projects that increased efficiency by 18%.

By switching 'obtained' for 'cultivated', active effort and growth are implied, emphasizing interpersonal skills. Associating this with quantifiable organizational benefits further underscores the candidate’s value.

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 Obtain.

More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

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 Developed on a resume:

• Developed and implemented heavily parallelized algorithms to resize and watermark 5MM+ images of different sizes using Amazon EC2.

How to use Conducted on a resume:

• Conducted competitor benchmarking analysis, competitor/distributor interviews and data analysis to determine that the existing sustained decline in a luxury skincare product business was reversible, building the case for a successful $150MM acquisition.

How to use Promoted on a resume:

• Promoted within 12 months due to strong performance and organizational impact - ahead of schedule by 12 months.

How to use Created on a resume:

• Created a performance reporting template, achieving an 80% reduction in the preparation time of standard client materials.

How to use Generated on a resume:

• Generated 12,000 unique users, 30,000 page views, and 2000+ newsletter signups in 3 weeks by successfully leveraging social media advertising (Facebook and Instagram).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Obtain on a resume?

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

Retrieved
Won
Collected
Gained
Earned
Negotiated

What is a better way of saying Obtain on a resume?

Synonyms you can use instead of the overused phrase Obtain include:

Purchased
Captured
Gained
Collected
Realized
Garnered

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

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