Hiring managers want to know that candidates can adapt to new situations and make use of the resources and knowledge available to them. They want to see evidence that you can apply your knowledge and demonstrate your work in a real-world context. These things can be implied with the verb 'using.'

The term 'using' (the present participle of use) shows your ability to use what you know, which is an integral part of success in any field, so it's not surprising that employers would look for this on resumes. However, this word doesn't convey the necessary information about your experience. What's more, you should generally use a verb's past tense when listing achievements.

You can use past-tense power verbs to express your accomplishments and results to fix it. Power verbs are action words that show that you took action, made an impact, and overcame challenges. A better word for 'using' include 'leveraged,' 'improvised,' or 'applied.'

Using a power verb instead of weak verbs in your resume enables you to get noticed by recruiters looking for candidates with experience in specific areas and those who want someone who can think outside the box when faced with new challenges.

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

Resume Synonyms for Using:

Engaged
Constructed
Empowered
Formulated
Activated
Orchestrated
Intensified
Initiated
Operated
Mobilized
Optimized
Tailored
Advocated
Pioneered
Revamped
Applied
Harnessed
Leveraged
Capitalized
Attuned
Deployed
Restored
Wielded
Revived
Maneuvered
Exerted
Improvised
Implemented
Enforced
Fulfilled
Rendered
Integrated
Fused
Fabricated
Incorporated

How to replace Using with a stronger action verb:

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

Before: Weak example using Using

• Using Tableau and other data tools to build a useful dashboard

⤸

After: Using a stronger synonym• Built Tableau dashboard using data from Amplitude and Segment to visualize core business KPIs (e.g. Monthly Recurring Revenue), saving 10 hours per week of manual reporting work.

Replacing Using with Engaged ▾

Before: Using

• Using leadership skills to guide the team

⤸

After: Engaged• Engaged leadership abilities to guide a team of 12 on a project that slashed delivery time by 40% and led to a 20% increase in client satisfaction rates.

The 'before' statement is vague and lacks impact. It does not clearly state the results of using the leadership skills. In the 'after' example, I used the action verb 'Engaged' to show a proactive approach and included specific numbers to illustrate the project's successful outcome.

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 Using with Constructed ▾

Before: Using

• Using advanced Excel formulas for data analysis

⤸

After: Constructed• Constructed advanced Excel formulas that improved data analysis accuracy by 25%, helping the company make data-driven decisions and boost revenue by 15%.

The 'before' statement was unclear about what was achieved with the Excel formulas. 'Constructed' shows careful creation and I included specific metrics to show the impact that was made on the business.

Replacing Using with Empowered ▾

Before: Using

• Using communication skills to resolve customer complaints

⤸

After: Empowered• Empowered superior communication skills to resolve customer complaints and restore trust, resulting in a 35% decrease in returned products.

I chose 'Empowered' because it shows a assertive, proactive effort to drive change. I also made sure to clarify the outcome, specifically the decrease in returned products, stating clear change.

Replacing Using with Formulated ▾

Before: Using

• Using marketing strategies to increase product awareness

⤸

After: Formulated• Formulated innovative marketing strategies that heightened product awareness and led to a 45% increase in online sales in 6 months.

By transitioning from 'Using' to 'Formulated', the action became targeted. Clear metrics and the use of time provide insight into the effectiveness of the marketing strategies.

Replacing Using with Activated ▾

Before: Using

• Using creative solutions to tackle project challenges

⤸

After: Activated• Activated creative solutions that overcame project challenges, increasing the project completion rate by 30%, saving the team 15 hours each week.

I swapped 'Using' for 'Activated' to show initiation as well as implementation. The quantifiable results serve to emphasize the effectiveness of these creative solutions.

Replacing Using with Orchestrated ▾

Before: Using

• Using team resources to complete a project

⤸

After: Orchestrated• Orchestrated team resources to complete a complex project 2 weeks ahead of schedule, saving the department $20,000.

The 'before' statement did not specify any outcomes, which made it weak. 'Orchestrated' shows intention and leadership. Including the speed and cost impact makes it clear how significant the change was.

Replacing Using with Intensified ▾

Before: Using

• Using social media for business promotion

⤸

After: Intensified• Intensified the brand's online presence by creating engaging social media campaigns that saw a 50% increase in followers and 25% increase in website traffic within 3 months.

I replaced 'Using' with 'Intensified' to show a deliberate effort to boost results. The addition of percentage increase and time period help quantify the improvements made.

Replacing Using with Initiated ▾

Before: Using

• Using technological skills to create an information database

⤸

After: Initiated• Initiated an information database that decreased the time taken to retrieve data by 35%, positioning the company as a leader in efficiency.

The action verb 'Initiated' indicates taking charge and starting something new. Metrics were included in the 'after' version to communicate the results more clearly.

Replacing Using with Operated ▾

Before: Using

• Using sales skills to meet targets

⤸

After: Operated• Operated sales strategies that led to a consistent meeting of team sales targets for 8 consecutive quarters, contributing to a 20% annual sales growth.

Replacing 'Using' with 'Operated' infers an element of control and proficiency. The 'after' version highlights consistency and a direct, quantifiable contribution to the business.

Replacing Using with Mobilized ▾

Before: Using

• Using team-building activities to boost morale

⤸

After: Mobilized• Mobilized team-building activities that boosted morale, leading to a reduction in staff turnover by 22% across a 12-month period.

'Mobilized' connotes strategic action and instigation. Including specific outcomes in the 'after' version helps to convey the impact of the actions taken.

Replacing Using with Optimized ▾

Before: Using

• Using software to improve productivity

⤸

After: Optimized• Optimized productivity by deploying Trello, which resulted in a 30% efficiency increase and saved our team 10 hours per week.

The 'before' statement doesn't mention which software was used or the outcome. The 'after' statement mentions the software and clearly states the quantifiable results in efficiency and time saved.

Replacing Using with Tailored ▾

Before: Using

• Using client feedback to improve services

⤸

After: Tailored• Tailored service offerings based on client feedback, which increased client retention rates by 40% and reduced complaint percentages to under 7%.

By using 'Tailored', I emphasized the proactive adjustment of services to meet customer needs. A marked improvement in two distinct areas gives weight to the practical effect of these changes.

Replacing Using with Advocated ▾

Before: Using

• Using company values to inform decision making

⤸

After: Advocated• Advocated for company values, resulting in a more inclusive work environment which increased employee engagement rate to 85%.

'Advocated' was used to stress active promotion of values. In the 'after' statement, I outlined a clear impact—an increased engagement rate.

Replacing Using with Pioneered ▾

Before: Using

• Using new methods to solve problems

⤸

After: Pioneered• Pioneered innovative troubleshooting strategies, decreasing system failures by 32% and improving customer experience, mirrored in a 30% increase in positive reviews.

'Pioneered' implies leading with an innovative approach. In the 'after' example, I quantified the positive impacts showing the effectiveness of the new methods.

Replacing Using with Revamped ▾

Before: Using

• Using team feedback to revise company operations

⤸

After: Revamped• Revamped company operations based on team feedback, streamlining processes, and reducing operating costs by 15%, whilst increasing staff productivity by 22%.

By replacing 'Using' with 'Revamped', I illustrated innovation and proactiveness. The result clarified the benefits of the changes in terms of cost savings and productivity boost.

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 Using.

More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

How to use Managed on a resume:

• Managed a 10-member cross-functional (engineering, product, sales, support) team and coordinated with five business partners towards the successful launch of an e-commerce website.

How to use Generated on a resume:

• Generated insights on customer churn and renewal rates from data tables with 100M rows in SQL.

How to use Earned on a resume:

• Earned expedited promotion to Senior Analyst after one year as Analyst (earned by less than 1% of cohort).

How to use Developed on a resume:

• Developed an iPhone app to help medical professionals measure the insulin needs of patients with diabetes.

How to use Overhauled on a resume:

• Overhauled the obsolete legacy source code of two production applications, resulting in increased usability and reduced run time performance by 50%.

How to use Created on a resume:

• Created Monte Carlo simulation using Pandas (Python) to generate 30,000 sample portfolios with 8+ constraints.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Using on a resume?

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

Capitalized
Maneuvered
Leveraged
Fulfilled
Implemented
Wielded

What is a better word for Using on a resume?

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

Capitalized
Fabricated
Wielded
Implemented
Fulfilled
Improvised

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

If you have a version of your resume ready, remember to get it checked using our free resume scanner below. It will make sure all your action verbs are strong enough, and give you feedback on any mistakes you might have overlooked, so you can fix them before a recruiter sees them.

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