ACTION WORDS FOR RESUMES
The word list is categorized into various skill areas
Action verbs give your resume power and direction
They present a clear/concise message about your skills to the employer
Use present tense for current jobs and past tense for previous jobs; be consistent
Financial Skills
Administered
Allocated
Analyzed
Appraised
Audited
Balanced
Budgeted
Calculated
Computed
Dept. Records
Detailed
Developed
Forecasted
Managed
Marketed
Planned
Projected
Researched
Solved
Technical Skills
Assembled
Built
Calculated
Computed
Designed
Engineered
Fabricated
Maintained
Operated
Overhauled
Programmed
Remodeled
Repaired
Solved
Upgraded
Manual Skills
Assembled
Bent
Bound
Controlled
Cut
Drilled
Fed
Ground
Handled
Lifted
Moved
Operated
Pulled
Set-up
Shipped
Tended
Helping Skills
Adjusted
Assessed
Assisted
Attended
Clarified
Coached
Counseled
Demonstrated
Diagnosed
Expedited
Facilitated
Familiarized
Guided
Led
Motivated
Referred
Related
Represented
Serviced
Review and use the higher
order skills if applicable.
For more information about
Bloom’s Taxonomy, see the
article by Patricia
Armstrong, former
Assistant Director of the
Center for Teaching at
Vanderbilt University.
https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/blooms-taxonomy/
The underlined words are especially good for pointing out accomplishments.
Management Skills
Administered
Analyzed
Assigned
Chaired
Consolidated
Contracted
Controlled
Coordinated
Delegated
Developed
Directed
Evaluated
Executed
Hired
Improved
Increased
Organized
Oversaw
Prioritized
Produced
Reviewed
Scheduled
Strengthened
Supervised
Research Skills
Clarified
Collected
Critiqued
Decided
Diagnosed
Evaluated
Examined
Extracted
Extrapolated
Gathered
Identified
Inspected
Interpreted
Interviewed
Investigated
Organized
Reviewed
Summarized
Surveyed
Synthesized
Systematized
Wrote
Communication
Skills
Addressed
Arbitrated
Arranged
Authored
Collaborated
Convinced
Corresponded
Created
Developed
Directed
Drafted
Edited
Enlisted
Formulated
Helped
Influenced
Interpreted
Lectured
Led
Mediated
Moderated
Motivated
Negotiated
Obtained
Persuaded
Promoted
Publicized
Read
Reasoned
Reconciled
Recruited
Sold
Spoke
Creative Skills
Acted
Conceptualized
Customized
Designed
Developed
Established
Fashioned
Founded
Generated
Illustrated
Imagined
Initiated
Instituted
Integrated
Invented
Originated
Perceived
Performed
Planned
Played
Revitalized
Shaped
Visualized
Teaching Skills
Adapted
Advised
Briefed
Clarified
Coached
Communicated
Coordinated
Decided
Developed
Enabled
Encouraged
Enlightened
Evaluated
Explained
Facilitated
Guided
Influenced
Informed
Initiated
Instructed
Invented
Persuaded
Stimulated
Clerical/Detail Skills
Approved
Arranged
Catalogued
Classified
Collected
Compared
Compiled
Copied
Dispatched
Enforced
Executed
Generated
Implemented
Inspected
Judged
Met deadlines
Monitored
Operated
Organized
Prepared
Processed
Purchased
Recorded
Responded
Retained
Retrieved
Screened
Specified
Systematized
Tabulated
Validated
More Verbs for
Accomplishments
Achieved
Expanded
Improved
Pioneered
Reduced (losses)
Resolved (problems)
Restored
Spearheaded
Transformed
