Resume action verbs that show results, grouped by what you did
The first word of a bullet sets its tone. "Responsible for" describes a job description. "Reduced" describes something you did. Pick the verb that is accurate, then follow it with what changed.
Phrases to replace
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| Responsible for | Managed, Ran, Owned, Led |
| Worked on | Built, Developed, Delivered, Shipped |
| Helped with / Assisted with | Supported, Coordinated, Contributed to (then say what you did) |
| Duties included | Start directly with what you did |
| Participated in | Collaborated with, Represented, Presented |
Verbs by type of achievement
You made something better
Improved, Streamlined, Optimized, Simplified, Modernized, Redesigned, Upgraded, Strengthened, Refined, Standardized
You increased or reduced a number
Increased, Grew, Boosted, Doubled, Raised, Expanded, Reduced, Cut, Lowered, Eliminated, Saved
You created something new
Built, Created, Designed, Developed, Launched, Introduced, Established, Founded, Pioneered, Authored
You led people or projects
Led, Managed, Directed, Supervised, Coordinated, Mentored, Trained, Coached, Recruited, Organized
You analysed or solved a problem
Analyzed, Identified, Diagnosed, Investigated, Resolved, Researched, Evaluated, Audited, Forecasted, Tested
You sold, persuaded or served
Negotiated, Won, Secured, Closed, Presented, Advised, Retained, Partnered, Converted, Resolved
Three rules
- Vary them. Five bullets starting with "Managed" read as one long bullet.
- Use past tense for past roles and present tense only for what you still do today.
- Do not let the verb do all the work. "Spearheaded initiatives" says nothing. "Launched a referral scheme that brought in 120 customers" says everything.
The checker shows how many of your bullets open with a strong verb and flags the weak phrases above.