Action words give your resume and cover letter power and direction, and ensure your personal marketing tools are noticed by employers and recruiters. They engage the reader with vivid language that captures what you do and why you do it well.
Here is a list of 150 powerful action verbs to use in your resume and cover letters. Next time you update your resume, include some of these strong, compelling action words to catch employers’ eyes.
Management | |||
| Achieved Approved Assigned Attained Chaired Commanded | Coordinated Delegated Directed Enlisted Generated | Implemented Improved Increased Managed Motivated Navigated | Oversaw Recommended Recruited Strengthened Supervised |
Administration | |||
| Administered Allocated Appraised Arranged Assessed Catalogued | Classified Collected Compiled Dispatched Distributed Executed | Organised Planned Prepared Processed Purchased Recorded | Retrieved Scheduled Screened Specified Systemised |
Technical | |||
| Accelerated Adapted Assembled Built Calculated Computed | Consolidated Engineered Fabricated Inspected Installed | Maintained Monitored Operated Overhauled Programmed | Remodelled Repaired Revised Solved Upgraded |
Communication | |||
| Addressed Authored Communicated Corresponded Drafted Edited | Engaged Expressed Facilitated Formulated Influenced Interpreted | Mediated Moderated Negotiated Participated Persuaded Promoted | Proofed Publicised Spoke Translated Wrote |
Creative | |||
| Conceived Created Demonstrated Designed Developed | Devised Established Fashioned Founded Illustrated | Integrated Introduced Invented Performed Produced | Rehabilitated Represented Revitalised Shaped Streamlined |
Research | |||
| Conducted Critiqued Detected Diagnosed Discovered | Dissected Evaluated Examined Expanded | Extracted Identified Interpreted Interviewed Investigated | Reviewed Summarised Surveyed Validated |
Teaching | |||
| Aided Advised Assisted Clarified | Coached Educated Enabled Encouraged | Explained Guided Informed Instructed | Lectured Set goals Trained |
Financial | |||
| Analysed Audited | Balanced Budgeted | Calculated Forecasted | Projected Reconciled |