Because recruiters are looking for reasons to move forward with an applicant, they want to know why they should hire you over another one who also has similar qualifications. The verb 'presented' gives you that edge—it tells them that you can make a case for your ideas, persuade others, and convince them of the merits of your point of view. This is a crucial skill for positions in sales or marketing, but it's also essential for roles in other industries.
When writing your resume, you must always be aware of the words you use. Using repetitive language can make your resume seem stilted, so be sure to alternate between different verbs when listing particular skills or accomplishments. Using synonyms for the action verb 'presented' will help you avoid this problem.
The word 'presented' can be replaced with other words, such as 'delivered' or 'enacted.' For example, if you were to say: 'Presented new program ideas,' you could say: 'Enacted new program ideas to benefit customers.' This will help you create a more convincing and professional impression of yourself.
Using synonyms gives you a better picture of how words can be used and will help recruiters see who you really are.
I've compiled some synonyms you can use instead of Presented on your resume, followed by real examples I've written for clients (feel free to use them!).
Resume Synonyms for Presented:
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Proposed
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Executed
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Organized
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Outlined
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Negotiated
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Counseled
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Initiated
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Mentored
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Showcased
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Influenced
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Rationalized
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Spearheaded
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Championed
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Converted
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Implemented
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Enacted
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Rendered
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Delivered
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Offered
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Wrote
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Illustrated
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Lobbied
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Outlined
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Persuaded
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Promoted
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Reviewed
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Introduced
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Demonstrated
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Corresponded
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Campaigned
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Explained
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Consulted
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Informed
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Composed
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Convinced
How to replace Presented with a stronger action verb:
Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase, Presented, with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.
Before: Weak example using Presented• Presented recommendations to a solar energy provider on where they should base their new headquarters
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After: Using a stronger synonym• Led a 10-week engagement in a four-member team for a solar energy provider; assessed 30+ locations and provided a recommendation for the most suitable location of their new headquarters.
Before: Presented• Presented a new personal time management system to the team.
⤸After: Proposed• Proposed and implemented a novel personal time management system that increased team efficiency by 15%, saving an estimate of 10 hours per week.
As a hiring manager, using 'proposed' indicates that you not just suggested an idea, but were also in part responsible for its execution. Including the impact - efficiency increase and time saved - shows real, measurable results from your 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.
Before: Presented• Presented a new marketing strategy to the team.
⤸After: Executed• Executed a comprehensive marketing strategy which boosted annual revenue by 23%, an equivalent of $1.2 million.
The word 'executed' showcases you as a proactive person who brings forward and implementing strategies. Including the quantifiable result communicates the size of your achievement, which helps to market yourself more effectively.
Before: Presented• Presented a charity event.
⤸After: Organized• Organized a charity event that attracted over 500 participants and raised $25,000 for local underprivileged communities.
Through 'organized', not only do you show your leadership and planning skills but also your dedication towards helping communities. The metric gives a clear demonstration of the scale of your impact and success.
Before: Presented• Presented budget plans to the team.
⤸After: Outlined• Outlined and enforced a robust budget plan that led to a 20% reduction in monthly overhead costs, saving the company around $50k annually.
By substituting with 'outlined', you now demonstrate your involvement in not only devising the plan but also implementing it. The after version quantifies the cost saved which adds a greater value to your role.
Before: Presented• Presented a new deal to potential partners.
⤸After: Negotiated• Negotiated and secured a profitable partnership deal that increased company's customer base by 30%, around 10,000 new clients.
The term 'negotiated' transforms the process of presentation into a series of impactful actions that led to significant results. By quantifying with specific numbers, you clearly define your accomplishment.
Before: Presented• Presented support to struggling team members.
⤸After: Counseled• Counseled four team members facing performance difficulties, improving their overall productivity by 35% over three months.
The verb 'counseled' not only implies a presentation of advice, but also a deeper level of personal guidance and interaction. Including numerical values gives credibility to your interpersonal skills.
Before: Presented• Presented a new project idea to the board members.
⤸After: Initiated• Initiated a new project that increased the company's market share by 5%, translating into a surge in revenue by $2M within a year.
The term 'initiated', gives you credit for acting proactively and taking control. Quantifying the increases in market share and revenue attributed to your direct efforts, dramatically emphasizes your value.
Before: Presented• Presented training programs to new employees.
⤸After: Mentored• Mentored 30+ new employees over six months, which accelerated their onboarding timeline by 3 weeks.
The switch to 'mentored' underlines the personal support you offered, showing your leadership skills. Including how your actions sped up onboarding brings a tangible accomplishment into view.
Before: Presented• Presented software solution to potential clients.
⤸After: Showcased• Showcased a key software solution at a major industry conference, generating interest from 50 potential clients and increasing leads by 25%.
Using 'showcased' paints a more vivid picture of what you did beyond simply presenting, while quantifying the interest you generated brings your impact into sharper focus.
Before: Presented• Presented new work policies to the team.
⤸After: Influenced• Influenced the adoption of flexible work policies, leading to a 20% increase in team productivity and a 10% decrease in weekly overtime hours.
'Influenced' portrays you as a change agent within your team. By quantifying the effect on the team's productivity and hours worked, you highlight the tangible, positive impact of your actions.
Before: Presented• Presented a new inventory management system.
⤸After: Rationalized• Rationalized a new inventory management system that reduced wasted stock by 60% and saved the company around $200,000 annually.
By using 'rationalized', the statement reflects your analytical thinking skills. Including the quantifiable data provides a clear measure of your positive impact on the company.
Before: Presented• Presented a new product initiative to the team.
⤸After: Spearheaded• Spearheaded a new product development initiative, resulting in a 50% increase in sales, translating into $1.5M additional revenue in under a year.
The word 'spearheaded' signifies strong leadership and initiative, while the metrics provide a concrete measure of the impact of your effort on sales and revenue.
Before: Presented• Presented an idea for a workplace wellness program.
⤸After: Championed• Championed the implementation of a workplace wellness program, leading to a 30% decrease in employee sick days over a year.
Using 'championed' highlights your advocacy for positive change. Your achievement is made more tangible by quantifying how many sick days were reduced owing to your effort.
Before: Presented• Presented sales proposals to leads.
⤸After: Converted• Converted 40% of sales proposals into active contracts, culminating in a record quarterly revenue growth of 15%.
The term 'converted' is relevant and strong for sales roles, showing your efficacy. By providing a specific percentage, you quantifiably demonstrate how your efforts led to positive company growth.
Before: Presented• Presented a plan for better customer service.
⤸After: Implemented• Implemented a customer service strategy that reduced customer churn by 10% and enhanced customer retention by 15%.
'Implemented' emphasizes that you put theory into action and directly contributed to achieving specific results. The detailed metrics make your achievements more substantial and verifiable.
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 Presented.
More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms
How to use Optimized on a resume:
• Optimized $100MM+ retail company's advertising spend by media type through multivariable regression analysis; exceeded target growth by 15%.
How to use Created on a resume:
• Created economic model to assess financial feasibility and operational synergies throughout the supply chain; identified >$50M in savings.
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 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 Analyzed on a resume:
• Analyzed industry trends in the automobile sector and presented long and short equity investment ideas for 12 large-cap stocks that outperformed the Bloomberg sector benchmark by 7% in 2014..
How to use Crafted on a resume:
• Crafted strategic plan for a major client with revenues >$40B through insights from market trend analysis, organizational effectiveness diagnostic, and interviews with senior stakeholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
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