Résumé Action Words

Use compelling and meaningful verbs in the work history section of your résumé to capture the attention of the hiring manager.  For example, instead of writing "Responsible for organizing files," simply write "Organized files." 

There are many websites where you can find suggestions for résumé action words. You can start with the words below. 

For example, Indeed.com has a categorized list of action words that help you describe your work. They list verbs related to a strong work ethic, accomplishments, communication skills, creativity, sales, management, finance and technical skills.

Accelerated

Accomplished

Acquainted

Acted as

Adapted

Adjusted

Administered

Advised

Analyzed

Approached

Approved

Arbitrated

Arranged

Assessed

Assisted

Assigned

Audited

Authored

Budgeted

Calculated

Catalogued

Chaired

Clarified

Collaborated

Collected

Communicate

Completed

Compounded

Conceptualize

Conceived

Conciliated

Conducted

Conferred

Conserved

Consolidated

Constructed

Consulted

Controlled

Cooperated

Coordinated

Counseled

Created

Committed

Commended

Decided

Defined

Delegated

Delivered

Demonstrated

Designed

Detailed

Determined

Developed

Devised

Diagnosed

Directed

Dispensed

Displayed

Distributed

Drafted

Edited

Educated

Eliminated

Employed

Engaged

Enlarged

Equipped

Established

Evaluated

Examined

Exchanged

Executed

Exercised

Exhibited

Expanded

Experienced

Facilitated

Familiarized

Formulated

Functioned

Gathered

Governed

Guided

Handled

Hired

Identified

Illustrated

Implemented

Improved

Increased

Influenced

Informed

Initiated

Innovated

Installed

Instituted

Instructed

Integrated

Interested

Interpreted

Interviewed

Introduced

Inverted

Investigated

 Involved

Launched

Lectured

Maintained

Managed

Marketed

Mediated

Moderated

Modified

Monitored

Motivated

Negotiated

Obtained

Operated

Ordered

Organized

Originated

Participated

Performed

Persuaded

Planned

Possessed

Prepared

Prescribed

Presented

Presided

Problem solve

Processed

Produced

Programmed

Promoted

Proposed

Protected

Provided

Publicized

Published

Purchased

Received

Recognized

Recommended

Recorded

Recruited

Rectified

Re-designed

Reduced

Referred

Reinforced

Related

Rendered

Renewed

Reorganized

Reported

Represented

Researched

Revamped

Reviewed

Revised

Scheduled

Screened

Selected

Served

Set up

Simplified

Skilled

Saved

Sold

Solved

Staffed

Standardized

Simulated

Structured

Strengthened

Studied

Summarized

Supervised

Supplied

Surveyed

Systemized

Taught

Tested

Trained

Transcribed

Translated

Wrote