Resume Synonyms for Plan

Want another word for Plan 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, "Plan".

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

Describing yourself as someone who plans helps demonstrate that you're more than just a doer—you're also a thinker. The present tense verb 'plan' is a strong verb that indicates you can set goals and work towards them. It demonstrates that you can think ahead and anticipate the outcomes of your actions.

By using the word 'plan,' you're showing how critical you are about what's best for your team/company/organization—and then taking action on those thoughts. However, using this word too frequently in your resume can make it seem redundant—like you're not giving enough thought to the words you use. It's also best to describe past achievements in the past tense—i.e., 'planned.'

Look at how you can describe what you've done and ensure that you vary them. For example, use synonyms for 'plan,' such as forecasted, strategized, devised, etc. This helps to create variety in your sentences, which makes them more interesting to read.

Synonyms give you more flexibility while writing your resume—you can tailor it according to the needs of different employers. Using other words for 'plan' in your resume shows recruiters that you have an organized and strategic mind, as well as a creative approach toward problem-solving.

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

Resume Synonyms for Plan:

  • Measured
  • Calculated
  • Studied
  • Projected
  • Budgeted
  • Charted
  • Framed
  • Strategized
  • Plotted
  • Drafted
  • Contrived
  • Devised
  • Outlined
  • Sketched
  • Proposed
  • Schemed
  • Modeled
  • Composed
  • Wrote
  • Forecasted

How to replace Plan with a stronger action verb:

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

Before: Weak example using Plan

Planned social media approach to grow the company's Twitter audience

After: Using a stronger synonymCreated and implemented a social media plan that increased the company's Twitter followers from 1250 to 4700+ within one month on the job..

Replacing Plan with Arranged

Before: Plan

Planned a conference for industry professionals

After: ArrangedArranged a groundbreaking conference for 500+ industry professionals which increased company's visibility by 35%.

The revised bullet point leverages concrete metrics to show the impact of your contributions. Instead of the vague 'planned', we use 'arranged' to imply organization and structured execution of the task.

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 Plan.


More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

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 Collaborate on a resume:

Collaborate with developers and product management team to assess project outcomes and prioritize future app features.

How to use Evaluated on a resume:

Evaluated strategies and synergies surrounding potential acquisition targets for a major car manufacturer..

How to use Selected on a resume:

Selected as a case interviewer for analyst candidates (usually reserved for Senior Consultant+ level).

How to use Developed on a resume:

Developed web scraping program in Python to help the firm download public data, including over 10,000 company descriptions and stock quotes, enriching internal data and increasing research efficiency by over 50%.

How to use Created on a resume:

Created and implemented Google AdWords strategy; increased customer acquisitions by 20% and decreased cost per acquisition by 50%.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Plan on a resume?

Words like Plan are overused on resumes. Instead, you should use other phrases like Outlined, Budgeted, Measured, Devised, Projected or Sketched.

What can I say instead of Plan on a resume?

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

  • Measured
  • Contrived
  • Composed
  • Framed
  • Budgeted
  • Strategized

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

I'd recommend uploading your resume below to get a free resume review. You'll get a detailed analysis of your resume's action verbs and your experience, with instant suggestions on how to improve them based on recruiter insights.



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