Seeing the word 'worked with' in your resume indicates that you can work collaboratively with others. This is a valuable skill for any employee, and recruiters and hiring managers will be impressed by it.
Though the action verb 'worked with' is a good word to describe your work responsibilities, it's important to note that it's weak and passive. It suggests that you were not in charge of the project and had no authority over the people working on it. That is not the impression you want to give off; you want to sound like a leader who can lead others through projects and get things done.
Alternatively, you can use a better word for 'worked with,' such as 'reinforced,' 'furthered,' or 'effected,' to show that you have experience managing projects and getting results.
By making minor edits to your resume, such as using power verbs, you can make it stronger and more effective at communicating your qualifications.
I've compiled some synonyms you can use instead of Worked with on your resume, followed by real examples I've written for clients (feel free to use them!).
Resume Synonyms for Worked with:
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Designed
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Streamlined
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Formulated
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Orchestrated
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Pioneered
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Initiated
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Innovated
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Promoted
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Devised
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Transformed
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Generated
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Championed
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Maximized
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Revamped
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Elevated
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Accelerated
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Spearheaded
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Implemented
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Optimized
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Drove
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Fortified
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Imposed
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Overhauled
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Empowered
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Bolstered
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Boosted
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Expedited
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Facilitated
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Reinforced
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Furthered
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Communicated
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Mediated
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Negotiated
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Networked
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Engaged
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Liaised
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Concerted
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Maneuvered
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Effected
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Interceded
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Wangled
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Built
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Motivated
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Persuaded
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Ignited
How to replace Worked with with a stronger action verb:
Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase, Worked with, with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.
Before: Weak example using Worked with• Worked with multiple teams to evaluate, select and implement the system; had a leadership role
⤸
After: Using a stronger synonym• Led evaluation and selection of new CRM system; spearheaded a cross-functional team (Technology, Business Development, Management) to implement the system; successful adoption accelerated revenue growth by 25% in 1 year.
Before: Worked with• Worked with team to develop a client retention process.
⤸After: Designed• Designed an efficient client retention cycle that improved client satisfaction by 30% within the first quarter.
The transformation presents the candidate as more proactive and specific about their accomplishments. I specifically chose 'designed' because it highlights the candidate's creative and strategic skills, and shows they take the initiative to fix problems.
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: Worked with• Worked with a dedicated team to enhance the company’s online onboarding process.
⤸After: Streamlined• Streamlined the online onboarding process reducing employee ramp-up time by 15%.
'Streamlined' presents the candidate as a problem solver who's on a mission to optimize the company's procedures. The resulting metrics show the tangible impact they made, which was missing in the initial version.
Before: Worked with• Worked with others to create marketing strategies.
⤸After: Formulated• Formulated and executed innovative marketing strategies that boosted product sales by 18% over a 6-month period.
Changing 'Worked with' to 'Formulated' turns a rather vague contribution to a strategic action. The impact is clear and measurable, making this task highly impressive.
Before: Worked with• Worked with the internal team to plan corporate events.
⤸After: Orchestrated• Orchestrated high-profile corporate events, which led to a 25% increase in company exposure and 15% more lead generation.
'Orchestrated' replaces 'Worked with' to illustrate how the candidate took the lead. Quantifiable results were added to provide a clearer image of the candidate's impact.
Before: Worked with• Worked with the technology department on a new analytics tool.
⤸After: Pioneered• Pioneered the development of a new analytics tool that improved data processing speed by 50%.
'Pioneered' suggests novel and transformative work which better reflects the candidate's impact on the organization. The measurable impact underscores the candidate's problem-solving capabilities.
Before: Worked with• Worked with sales teams on customer engagement strategies.
⤸After: Initiated• Initiated customer-centric engagement strategies that led to a 22% increase in conversion rates within 5 months.
The switch to 'initiated' demonstrates leadership and proactive behavior. Combined with clear figures indicating improved performance, the effect our candidate had on the company is impossible to ignore.
Before: Worked with• Worked with marketing team on new campaign strategies.
⤸After: Innovated• Innovated dynamic campaign strategies that increased web traffic by a record 40% in Q2.
'Innovated' communicates creativity, originality and forward-thinking - qualities highly sought after within the marketing domain. Providing actual figures bring reader attention to the significant improvement, enhancing candidate appeal.
Before: Worked with• Worked with stakeholders to increase brand awareness.
⤸After: Promoted• Promoted new branding through a coordinated PR and social media campaign; grew Instagram following by 30% in three months.
'Promoted' implies leadership and execution while sounding more engaging. By including metrics, the new sentence illustrates the tangible success of the candidate's initiatives.
Before: Worked with• Worked with teams on risk management protocols.
⤸After: Devised• Devised comprehensive risk management protocols, resulting in a 20% decline in identified issues in the first year.
'Devised' emphasizes the candidate's expertise and foresight. The inclusion of quantified results explicitly showcases the positive effects of the candidate's actions.
Before: Worked with• Worked with a design team to improve user interfaces.
⤸After: Transformed• Transformed user interfaces which enhanced the user experience and increased customer usage time by 15%.
'Transformed' suggests a major change was implemented which increased the magnitude of the candidate's contributions. Precise results echoed the exact augmentations made due to this transformation.
Before: Worked with• Worked with the team to find leads.
⤸After: Generated• Generated 500 new, viable leads within a quarter, exceeding the company average by 20%.
By changing 'worked with' to 'generated', the new bullet point reveals a direct action and the results it had, showing the candidate as a high performer.
Before: Worked with• Worked with team to implement new software.
⤸After: Championed• Championed the utilization of new software which increased productivity by 25%.
'Championed' position the candidate as an active participant and leader in the process. Measurable impact was added to display the beneficial effects instantly.
Before: Worked with• Worked with production team to improve efficiency.
⤸After: Maximized• Maximized production efficiency by implementing a lean manufacturing process, resulting in a 28% cost reduction.
The term 'Maximized' gives readers a glimpse of the candidate's optimization capabilities, and the following quantifiable result validates it. This change casts a stronger light on the candidate's capabilities.
Before: Worked with• Worked with the sales department on frequency of follow-ups.
⤸After: Revamped• Revamped the sales follow-up process, reducing the average sales cycle by 15 days.
'Revamped' highlights that the candidate doesn't just perform tasks, but improves processes. The clear numerics support the claim, making it more authentic and compelling.
Before: Worked with• Worked with development team to improve user experience.
⤸After: Elevated• Elevated the app's user experience by integrating machine learning recommendations; increased user reviews by 25%.
By using 'Elevated', we showcase the candidate's salient role and strategic thinking. Including detailed, measurable results give employers the facts they need to evaluate potential contributions.
Before: Worked with• Worked with teams to speed project delivery.
⤸After: Accelerated• Accelerated project delivery process by adopting Agile methodologies, improving project completion rates by 30%.
'Accelerated' underscores the candidate's ability to improve and expedite processes. Detailed results showcase the real-world outcomes of these efficiencies.
Before: Worked with• Worked with the team to launch a new product.
⤸After: Spearheaded• Spearheaded the successful launch of a new product line, resulting in $2M in sales in the first quarter.
'Spearheaded' positions the candidate as the leader of impactful projects. This, coupled with an impressively high sales metric, illustrates a high-value candidate.
Before: Worked with• Worked with a team to improve industry standards.
⤸After: Implemented• Implemented a new training program that delivered 15% improvements in industry standard compliance.
Moving from 'Worked with' to 'Implemented', this revised bullet point emphasizes clear action and impact. It also demonstrates a direct correlation between the candidate's efforts and the company's adherence to industry standards.
Before: Worked with• Worked with sales team to improve pipeline stages.
⤸After: Optimized• Optimized sales pipelines which led to a 20% increase in deals closed.
Using 'Optimized' illustrates the candidate's skill in maximizing productivity. By adding measurable results of the optimized process, the bullet point effectively conveys the candidate's ability to improve bottom line results.
Before: Worked with• Worked with a team on customer service strategies.
⤸After: Drove• Drove customer satisfaction up 35% by implementing a new service strategy that addressed major customer pain-points.
Using 'Drove' provides a sense of the candidate's tenacity and commitment to achieving high standards. The added metric clarifies how the candidate's work tangibly affected the company's customer success efforts.
Before: Worked with• Worked with the IT team to secure company data.
⤸After: Fortified• Fortified company’s data security by laying down stringent cybersecurity measures, reducing data breaches by 70%.
To better carry the story of the candidate's role, 'Fortified' replaces 'Worked with'. The strong metric emphasizes the genuine impact made by them.
Before: Worked with• Worked with the team to improve quality control.
⤸After: Imposed• Imposed stricter quality control procedures, resulting in a 20% decrease in defect rates.
'Imposed' suggests the candidate's decisive and authoritative role in improving the situation. Accurate measurements of the impact give the reader a sense of the real value added by the candidate.
Before: Worked with• Worked with a team to update company policies.
⤸After: Overhauled• Overhauled outdated company policies and procedures, leading to a 25% reduction in procedural errors.
'Overhauled' illustrates complexity, planning and execution which hints at the candidate's management skills. Accompanied with metrics, it displays the successful result of the effort put forth.
Before: Worked with• Worked with the team to ensure compliance with company policies.
⤸After: Empowered• Empowered team adherence to company policies, reducing noncompliance incidents by 45% over six months.
'Empowered' demonstrates leadership, along with the candidate's ability to positively influence others. Quantifiable success highlights the real, beneficial changes implemented.
Before: Worked with• Worked with the sales team to improve performance.
⤸After: Bolstered• Bolstered sales team's performance by 18% over a quarter through targeted coaching and pipeline management.
'Bolstered' encourages a stronger portrayal of the candidate’s involvement and leadership. Providing specific results engages the reader by drawing attention to the candidate’s proven record of enhancing performance.
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 Worked with.
More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms
How to use Coordinated on a resume:
• Coordinated a team of four developers and two designers to implement and launch online marketplace that connects students with tutors, within 6 months.
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.
How to use Led on a resume:
• Led team of six analysts towards saving client 10MM USD; acted as Engagement Manager by managing relationships with senior client stakeholders.
How to use Streamlined on a resume:
• Streamlined the implementation process and reduced the average product delivery time from 10 days to 4 days by redefining responsibilities and improving accountability of employees.
How to use Developed on a resume:
• Developed and implemented heavily parallelized algorithms to resize and watermark 5MM+ images of different sizes using Amazon EC2.
How to use Spearheaded on a resume:
• Spearheaded redevelopment of internal tracking system in use by 125 employees, resulting in 20+ new features, reduction of 20% in save/load time and 15% operation time.
Frequently Asked Questions
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