The job market is tough, and to set yourself apart from the competition, you must show the hiring manager that you can bring something unique. One way to do this is to emphasize your value by using the verb 'provided' when writing about your accomplishment.

Providing a service is one of the most important skills you can have—it shows that you can take the initiative, think creatively, and perform tasks effectively. When you use 'provided' in your resume, you're telling the recruiter just that. But, it doesn't tell them about what you did, and it leaves the question of what you provided unanswered.

This question helps recruiters understand what kind of work experience and skill set you have when they see your resume. To fix this problem, try using synonyms for 'provided.' For example, if you're a financial analyst who provided support for a business client, instead of saying 'provided support,' try saying 'mapped the financial planning process' or 'formulated data analysis and reporting processes.'

Using synonyms like these, rather than generic verbs like 'provided,' your resume will become more effective and appealing—and it will make it easier for recruiters to immediately understand what kind of role they're looking at.

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

Resume Synonyms for Provided:

Trained
Launched
Managed
Implemented
Delivered
Designed
Spearheaded
Generated
Guided
Revitalized
Amplified
Engineered
Empowered
Transformed
Boosted
Optimized
Demonstrated
Built
Coded
Engineered
Formulated
Instituted
Introduced
Wrote
Discovered
Identified
Mapped
Quantified
Supplied
Equipped
Yielded
Maintained
Procured
Presented
Sustained
Rendered

How to replace Provided with a stronger action verb:

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

Before: Weak example using Provided

• Provided new training materials and was involved in running training lectures

⤸

After: Using a stronger synonym• Established new training curriculum and conducted trainings; new training procedures reduced overall costs by 50%..

Replacing Provided with Trained ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided computer skills training to new hires.

⤸

After: Trained• Trained 15 new hires in advanced computer skills, resulting in a 45% increase in productivity within their first month.

By using 'Trained' instead of 'Provided', it clarifies the candidate's role. Including a number (15 new hires) and the impact (45% increase in productivity) provides quantifiable evidence of your abilities.

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 Provided with Launched ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided the initial development of a new company website.

⤸

After: Launched• Launched a new company website that increased online sales by 30% within the first quarter.

The verb 'Launched' shows initiative and leadership. Quantifying the increase in online sales directly ties your action to a positive result for the company.

Replacing Provided with Managed ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided overall supervision of the customer service department.

⤸

After: Managed• Managed a customer service department of 20 staff members, achieving a 15% reduction in customer complaints within the first year.

'Managed' shows clearly the candidate's responsibility level. Also, the impact of their management (reduction in customer complaints) is a strong selling point.

Replacing Provided with Implemented ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided a new inventory tracking strategy to the logistics department.

⤸

After: Implemented• Implemented an innovative inventory tracking strategy that improved picking and packing speed by 35%.

The term 'Implemented' can denote an active role in improving processes. The percentage improvement gives the potential employer an estimate of your ability to make significant contributions.

Replacing Provided with Delivered ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided customer support during peak hours.

⤸

After: Delivered• Delivered top-notch customer support to over 200 customers during peak hours, receiving a 97% positive feedback rating.

By stating that you 'Delivered' customer support, it indicates that you take ownership of your role. The usage of a metric such as the 97% positive feedback rating shows your effectiveness.

Replacing Provided with Designed ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided a new user-interface for the website.

⤸

After: Designed• Designed a user-friendly website interface which increased site traffic by 50% within six months.

The word 'Designed' shows creativity and problem-solving skills. Including the impact of your design quantifies your success.

Replacing Provided with Spearheaded ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided leadership in the launch of a new product line.

⤸

After: Spearheaded• Spearheaded the successful launch of a new product line which generated $5M in sales in its first year.

The verb 'Spearheaded' implies pioneering work and leadership. Including the amount generated in sales provides evidence of the impact of your role.

Replacing Provided with Generated ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided new sales leads through cold-calling.

⤸

After: Generated• Generated 200 new sales leads through strategic cold-calling, contributing to a 20% increase in sales.

Using 'Generated' shows successful results from effort. Also, specifying your success rate and its impact on sales increases shows your value.

Replacing Provided with Guided ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided assistance to customers for understanding the product.

⤸

After: Guided• Guided over 1000 customers to understand product features, improving customer retention by 30%.

'Guided' indicates a more active and personal role in customer relations. Indicating the number of customers and the effect on retention gives proof of the candidate's success in this role.

Replacing Provided with Revitalized ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided enhancements to the company's old website.

⤸

After: Revitalized• Revitalized the company's outdated website, which increased online traffic by 60%.

'Revitalized' indicates a sense of renewal or improving something that's outdated. Providing a specific percentage increase in online traffic offers tangible proof of the impact of your role.

Replacing Provided with Amplified ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided an increase in company sales.

⤸

After: Amplified• Amplified company sales by 25% over a six-month period through skilled upselling techniques.

'Amplified' reinforces the increase in sales. The percentage and the method used provides a clearer understanding of your role in this improvement.

Replacing Provided with Engineered ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided a new design for an efficient system process.

⤸

After: Engineered• Engineered a new system process that reduced operating costs by 15%.

'Engineered' shows the active role you took in improving processes. Along with a percentage reduction in operating costs, this presents a significant achievement to potential employers.

Replacing Provided with Empowered ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided training to the sales team.

⤸

After: Empowered• Empowered the sales team through comprehensive training, leading to a 20% increase in sales within three months.

'Empowered' implies you fostered growth and development. The use of a quantifiable result in terms of a percentage increase in sales further strengthens your achievement.

Replacing Provided with Transformed ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided improvements in the logistics process.

⤸

After: Transformed• Transformed the logistics process, cutting down delivery time by 25%.

'Transformed' showcases your capacity to change and improve systems. The metric of reducing delivery time is a strong evidence of your effectiveness.

Replacing Provided with Boosted ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided support in increasing the company's social media presence.

⤸

After: Boosted• Boosted the company's social media presence, resulting in a 45% increase in followers in just six months.

The word 'Boosted' sets a strong, impactful tone. The presence of a significant result strengthens your success in this role.

Replacing Provided with Optimized ▾

Before: Provided

• Provided a more efficient project management system.

⤸

After: Optimized• Optimized the project management system, increasing project completion rate by 35%.

The term 'Optimized' indicates a high level of proficiency. The metric of project completion rate adds concrete evidence of your impact.

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 Provided.

More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

How to use Developed on a resume:

• Developed turnaround strategy for leading telecoms provider with annual losses of $50MM; resulted in 10% increase in revenue, or $5MM profit in first year.

How to use Delivered on a resume:

• Delivered product solutions to institutional and corporate clients; grew customer base by +25% in Europe.

How to use Led on a resume:

• Led multi-disciplinary 7 person team to design, develop, and launch online e-commerce store; prioritized and resolved 45+ new features and bug fixes.

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 Assessed on a resume:

• Assessed capacity risks and developed an operating cost model of a $100MM supplier for a private equity client, highlighting $4-6MM potential savings opportunities.

How to use Created on a resume:

• Created a DCF valuation model to analyze a potential IPO of a major technology startup in New York.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Provided on a resume?

Generic language like Provided are considered to be buzzwords because they're used so often. Consider using synonyms like Yielded, Rendered, Discovered, Introduced, Instituted or Equipped.

What are other words for Provided on a resume?

You can say Formulated, Quantified or Sustained instead of Provided.

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

To figure out if you're using the right verbs on your resume, you should upload it to the tool below. It'll analyze at each of your resume's bullet points and verbs, as well as 20+ key criteria hiring managers look for, and tell you if you have any big mistakes that need fixing.

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