Resume Synonyms for Work On

Want another word for Work on 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, "Work on".

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

The phrase 'work on' shows that you have a long-term focus and can see through to completion what needs to be done. It also indicates that you've got a solid work ethic, which employers look for in candidates.

However, using 'work on' in your resume is a problem because it's vague. It doesn't give your reader details about what you've done or why and how you completed a particular task. It only tells people that you've worked on something—not what, precisely.

You can fix this problem using action verbs, which are specific and descriptive and highlight your skills. Use also the past tense of the verb ('worked on') when listing past achievements, unless it's a current one. For example, instead of saying 'work on' something, say 'improved' or 'refined.' This way, the recruiter will know what tasks you took on and your role within the organization.

Action verbs help you describe the impact of your work on a company and how it benefited that organization. They also make your resume more compelling to employers, who will likely call you in for interviews. Plus, they show that you have a high level of confidence in yourself—and confidence is attractive!

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

Resume Synonyms for Work on:

  • Persuaded
  • Influenced
  • Progressed
  • Hastened
  • Propelled
  • Honed
  • Furthered
  • Launched
  • Improved
  • Refined
  • Bettered
  • Polished
  • Elevated
  • Lifted
  • Bolstered
  • Enriched

How to replace Work on with a stronger action verb:

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

Before: Weak example using Work on

Worked on improving customer service and experience

After: Using a stronger synonymImproved customer service effectiveness by 30% by identifying sales data trends with Salesforce reports; reduced average lead-to-sale time conversion by 17% by implementing improved tracking methods. .

Replacing Work on with Directed

Before: Work on

Worked on product development team

After: DirectedDirected a product development team of 12, introducing a new product to market in 6 months, 25% ahead of the original timeline.

By using 'Directed' at the start of the sentence, it shows that the candidate took on a leadership role. Moreover, including the number of team members and how much time was saved in the project brings in clear, strong metrics.

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 Work on.


More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

How to use Assessed on a resume:

Assessed the product portfolio and created a brand turnaround strategy for a global fashion company; conducted qualitative interviews with industry experts and quantitative analysis to determine barriers to purchasing and distribution.

How to use Formulated on a resume:

Formulated implementation plans for transactions in collaboration with senior members of trading, sales, compliance and legal teams; generated annual profits of $10+ million.

How to use Analyzed on a resume:

Analyzed 50+ companies to identify potential investments, built valuation models, and visited 90+ members of senior management in Germany, Nigeria, Indonesia and Singapore to evaluate companies' growth outlook.

How to use Developed on a resume:

Developed strategies to trade and manage risk on the trading book comprising 30+ indices; 2016 P&L: $8M.

How to use Led on a resume:

Led interview campaign with existing customers (300+ person survey, 40+ face-to-face discussions) to formulate requirements of a new product to help couples manage their expenses; outputs directly impacted product roadmap.

How to use Launched on a resume:

Launched an e-commerce website which sold t-shirts themed on the 2016 Presidential Election; successfully processed 800+ online transactions from 600+ unique users.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Work on on a resume?

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

  • Honed
  • Polished
  • Bolstered
  • Progressed
  • Bettered
  • Elevated

What can I use instead of Work on on a resume?

You should vary up your language on your resume, instead of using Work on over and over again. Good synonyms to use instead include:

  • Enriched
  • Refined
  • Persuaded
  • Improved
  • Lifted
  • Hastened

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

Want to know what's holding your resume back? Upload your resume to the tool below. You'll get a report outlining what you did well, and what you need to improve.



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