The language you use when talking about your past achievements matters almost as much as the achievements themselves. Resume writing involves an element of storytelling, and if you want your story to be compelling, you need to tell it with strong words that catch the recruiter or hiring manager's eye when they skim your resume.

When writing your sales resume, make sure to use strong action verbs which highlight your sales experience — whether that's a word like "Communicated" or "Presented", to showcase your communication skills, or "Developed" or "Grew" to show your initiative and impact.

Action Verbs To Show Your Sales Experience:

For more resume advice from recruiters in this field, read the complete Sales Resume Guide.

We've compiled a lot more action verbs by job titles below.

How To Use Action Verbs On Your Resume

To show you how to use these action verbs in your resume, see this infographic for reference. You'll note that each bullet point uses strong action verbs, with a specific description of the task that was accomplished.

Action Verbs For Business Development Roles

Action verbs for business development specialists should generally indicate growth, improvement, and change, as the position relies on being able to generate and pursue new opportunities for businesses. We’ve included a list of strong action verbs to include on the left.

As an example of this in practice, the business development executive that we looked at above (the third template we reviewed) included a selection of relevant action verbs at each bullet point. We noted earlier how they described “growing territory”, but it’s also worth mentioning that they increased the customer base by 50 percent, boosted the BBB rating status, and “revamped” their recruiting process.

The verbs you choose to describe your accomplishments should be similarly dynamic (rather than flat or static). Put another way, business development specialists aren’t meant to maintain a status quo, but to elevate a business’s potential.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Business Development Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Account Manager Roles

Account managers are experts at fostering strong relationships, skillfully juggling the needs of multiple accounts, and efficiently communicating with many different types of people. You must have excellent business judgment and be oriented towards results. When writing your account manager resume, make sure to include action verbs that reflect your expertise in such areas -- for example, use words such as “strengthened” or “increased” to emphasize your accomplishments.

Again, it is helpful to review the account manager job description you are applying to and see what action verbs they are using. But make sure not to copy all of their verbs, and instead think critically to come up with creative verbs of your own that are similar in meaning.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Account Manager Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Account Executive Roles

Your account executive resume should include action verbs that convey the kind of image you’re trying to present to an employer. Account executives need to be able to satisfy clients, build a strong customer base, and satisfy the company’s bottom line, so choose action verbs that demonstrate your ability to do those things well.

Always start your bullet points with an action verb. Employers don’t care about your job duties — they want to know what you actually accomplished. Where possible, follow it up with hard numbers or metrics and the impact it had on the company.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Account Executive Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Retail Roles

Every retail position is public-facing to some degree, which means you should emphasize your ability to communicate, influence, and work as part of a team. If you want to highlight your business finesse, choose action verbs like Influenced, Promoted, and Recommended. If you’re aiming for a leadership position, action verbs like Motivated and Trained are ideal. For more ideas, check out our comprehensive list of resume action verbs.

Leading with action verbs means your resume is focused on accomplishments, not duties — hiring managers are far more interested in knowing how many customers you successfully upsold than what areas of the store you cleaned. Remember that, at its core, retail is sales-oriented, which means that numbers are your friend. The more detailed you can be when listing your achievements, the more likely it is that your resume will wind up on the “yes” pile.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Retail Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Sales Manager Roles

To get an idea of what action verbs you should be using in general as a sales manager, you can refer to the list on the left. These action verbs have been gleaned from sales manager resumes, and will enable your resume to make an impression on hiring managers while also making it past automatic screening tools.

As noted above, you should tailor your action verbs to specific positions based on your experience.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Sales Manager Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Sales Associate Roles

Sales associates must be excellent communicators, must know how to quickly get up to speed on a new product/service to answer customer questions. You must demonstrate exceptional professionalism and display empathy and tact in case a customer gets confused or frustrated.

When writing your sales associate resume, keep these qualities in mind as you choose action verbs to describe your experiences. Use the ones that reflect your strongest assets and that are relevant to the position. For example, use words like “resolved” or “handled” to emphasize your empathetic nature when you approach challenging customer problems.

Besides the list we have here, you can come up with ones of your own to use, or even read through various relevant job descriptions to see what kind of action verbs companies tend to use when they’re looking to hire sales employees.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Sales Associate Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Operations Manager Roles

When you’re applying to become an operations manager, you should always start your bullet points with precise and powerful verbs that tell hiring managers what you accomplished in your prior work experiences.

Operations managers do need a range of skills for their jobs, but as upper-level managers, they especially need to display leadership and management capabilities. Although there are many possible action verbs they could choose from, aspiring operations managers may want to pay special attention to the Executive and Management verbs.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Operations Manager Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Supply Chain Roles

To keep your resume engaging and demonstrate to hiring managers that you are comfortable in the supply chain field, you should lead each one of your bullet points with a relevant action verb whenever possible. Each bullet point should be a short, succinct summary of a single accomplishment, keeping them hard-hitting and informative. Try not to duplicate the action verbs too many times throughout the resume, though including some of them two or three times can help reinforce your experience in that role.

Remember to keep in mind that relevant skills can vary based on the particular position you’re applying for. Analysts, for example, should emphasize accomplishments in which they “analyzed”, “evaluated”, “identified”, or performed similar skills for previous employers.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Supply Chain Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Real Estate Agent Roles

Real estate agents are savvy salesmen/women and jack of all trades. They have the organization to maintain paperwork, the EQ to prospect new clients, and the marketing chops to successfully sell themselves.

It’s important to emphasize your skills in these areas when writing your real estate resume. For example, to highlight your prospecting abilities, use words such as “developed” or “collaborated”.

Real estate is, at its core, the business of selling houses, so it’s important to draw attention to all the deals you’ve successfully closed with strong action verbs. Use strong verbs to start out your bullet points, and demonstrate your accomplishments in leadership .

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Real Estate Agent Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Sales Engineer Roles

Each of your achievements and bullet points on in the experience section of your sales engineer resume should emphasize your sales and technical abilities. Sample action verbs for your resume are listed below. These action verbs are related to leading projects, undertaking new initiatives and growing business objectives. Don’t repeat action verbs more than twice on your resume - use different verbs to highlight different experiences.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Sales Engineer Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Roles

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For E-Commerce Roles

An eCommerce position requires a lot of analyzing, strategizing, and marketing. Using action verbs that address all three is an efficient way to prove your capabilities to recruiters.

We have compiled a list of action verbs focused on eCommerce-related tasks as well as managerial tasks that you can expect of an eCommerce manager. The right action verbs are an easy way to spotlight yourself and help showcase your most relevant skills in a few words.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full E-Commerce Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Advertising Roles

Strong action verbs help recruiters understand your role in specific tasks. An advertiser's resume should use action verbs that are relevant to advertisement. Action verbs like "Developed", "Inspired" or “Revamped" are examples of strong action verbs for this profession.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Advertising Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For SaaS Roles

Action verbs are grammatical tools to help you enhance the information in your resume. By using the right action verbs, you will be able to explain your role and experience accurately and precisely. We have curated some of the best action verbs you can use for your SaaS resume. Check them below.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full SaaS Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Merchandising Roles

It is crucial to be descriptive and precise when writing your work experience in your merchandising resume. You want to make sure you explain your responsibilities clearly and concisely. That’s why you should use the appropriate action verbs instead of being too general. Action verbs such as “researched”, “planned”, and “executed” will efficiently illustrate your duties.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Merchandising Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Fundraising Roles

If you want to capture people’s attention and increase your donor base you need to have excellent communication skills. You must be direct, precise, and a storyteller. The best thing you can do is demonstrate those traits in your resume. Action verbs can help you simplify your information and accurately illustrate your duties in past jobs. 

Use bullet points in your work experience section and start with a strong action verb to showcase reliability and accountability. Remember not to repeat them across your resume. If you need some inspiration, take a look at the following ones:

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Fundraising Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Director of Sales Roles

Your resume should be treated as a sales campaign. It must be persuasive, have excellent communication, and display your value. Yet, there’s one thing you need to leave behind; “salesy” and overly general (vague) words. Recruiters value those resumes that use precise language. You’ll be surprised by how much of a difference it makes to be straight to the point in your resume


Using the right action verbs is beneficial because they are descriptive and precise. Industry-relevant action verbs provide you with accountability and trustworthiness. You can use action verbs like “Negotiated” or “Increased” which are highly relevant to your industry. Below, you can find more relevant action verbs for your director of sales resume.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Director of Sales Resume Guide.

Action Verbs For Sales Coordinator Roles

Your sales coordinator's resume should reflect your communication skills and reliability. Why not leverage your work experience to demonstrate that? You can give the right impression on your resume by using strong action verbs. Try streamlining your work history by using bullet points. You can start each point with a strong action verb. 

Action verbs are precise and hold you accountable for achievements in the sales team, so it’s also a great idea for mentioning your accomplishments. If you need some inspiration to use various action verbs, check the list below.

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

If you'd like a deeper dive into this role, read the full Sales Coordinator Resume Guide.

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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