Your resume has about six seconds to make an impression. In those crucial moments, the words you choose matter more than you might think.
The difference between “responsible for customer accounts” and “grew customer accounts by 45% through strategic relationship building” isn’t just semantics. It’s the difference between a resume that gets passed over and one that lands interviews.
Action verbs are the foundation of compelling resume bullets. They transform passive job descriptions into dynamic achievement statements that capture attention and demonstrate value. This guide provides over 200 carefully selected action verbs organized by skill category, plus practical examples showing exactly how to use them.
Why Action Verbs Matter
The Power of Strong Verbs
Strong action verbs do more than describe what you did. They create a vivid picture of your capabilities and impact.
When you write “Spearheaded a cross-functional initiative” instead of “Was responsible for a project,” you immediately establish yourself as a leader who takes initiative. The verb itself conveys confidence, ownership, and capability.
Here’s what powerful action verbs accomplish:
Create dynamic, engaging bullet points that pull readers through your resume rather than putting them to sleep. Hiring managers review dozens or hundreds of resumes. Yours needs to stand out immediately.
Show your specific contributions rather than vague responsibilities. “Analyzed customer feedback data” tells a clearer story than “worked with customer data.”
Convey confidence and capability through word choice alone. Compare “helped the team” to “enabled the team” or “facilitated team success.” The latter options position you as someone who makes things happen.
Make achievements more memorable by painting a picture. “Orchestrated” creates a different mental image than “coordinated,” even though they’re similar. The more specific and vivid your language, the more memorable your accomplishments become.
Improve ATS matching when aligned with job descriptions. When job postings use specific verbs like “develop,” “implement,” or “analyze,” incorporating those exact terms helps your resume pass applicant tracking system filters.
The Problem with Weak Verbs
Certain phrases and weak verbs actively damage your resume’s effectiveness. They make you sound passive, uncertain, or unimpressive.
“Responsible for” is the most common offender. It’s passive language that describes duties, not achievements. It tells what you were supposed to do, not what you actually accomplished. Every hiring manager knows you were “responsible for” the things listed in your job description. What they want to know is what you achieved.
“Helped” minimizes your role and undersells your contribution. Unless you truly played a minor supporting role, “helped” makes you sound like a bystander rather than a contributor. Even if you were part of a team effort, there are better ways to express collaboration.
“Worked on” is generic filler that conveys almost nothing. It’s the verbal equivalent of shrugging your shoulders. You worked on something. Great. What did you actually do? Did you build it, analyze it, improve it, or fix it?
“Did” or “made” are completely unmemorable and vague. “Did analysis” could mean anything from a five-minute glance at a spreadsheet to a six-month deep-dive research project.
Overused verbs like “managed” blend into the background. Yes, “managed” is better than “responsible for,” but when every resume says “managed,” yours needs stronger, more specific language to differentiate yourself.
Real example of weak versus strong:
Weak: “Responsible for social media accounts. Helped with content creation. Worked on increasing engagement.”
Strong: “Managed company social media presence across 5 platforms, generating 156% increase in engagement through data-driven content strategy.”
The second version uses one instance of “managed” (acceptable when paired with specific achievements) and transforms vague responsibilities into a concrete accomplishment with measurable results.
How to Use Action Verbs Effectively
Getting the most from action verbs requires strategic thinking, not just word substitution.
Start every bullet point with a strong action verb. This creates immediate impact and establishes you as someone who takes action. Your eye naturally goes to the beginning of each line, so that’s valuable real estate.
Vary your verbs throughout your resume. Don’t repeat the same words. If you’ve used “developed” three times, your resume sounds repetitive and lazy. The English language offers dozens of alternatives. Use them.
Choose verbs that match your actual role and level. An entry-level employee who claims they “spearheaded” or “orchestrated” initiatives raises red flags. Similarly, a senior leader who only “assisted” or “supported” sounds underqualified. Match your language to your actual responsibility level.
Pair verbs with specific results and metrics. Action verbs alone aren’t enough. “Increased sales” is better than “responsible for sales,” but “increased sales by 34% in Q2 through targeted email campaigns” is exponentially more powerful. The verb starts the sentence strong, and the specifics prove your impact. (Learn more about writing powerful resume achievements.)
Use past tense for previous roles, present tense for current positions. This is a basic grammar rule that many people miss. Consistency matters for professionalism.
Align your verbs with job description language when relevant. If a job posting says they need someone to “analyze market trends” and “develop strategies,” using those exact verbs in your resume creates immediate relevance. Just make sure you’re being truthful about your experience.
Be specific over flashy. A verb like “architected” sounds impressive, but only use it if you actually designed the architecture of something. “Built” might be less flashy but more accurate. Honesty builds trust.
Action Verbs by Skill Category
Leadership and Management
Leadership verbs should reflect the scope and nature of your actual leadership role. Choose carefully based on whether you led people, projects, or initiatives.
Team Leadership
Use these verbs when you’ve directly managed, guided, or influenced people:
Directed, Led, Supervised, Managed, Oversaw - Direct management of people or teams
Guided, Mentored, Coached, Developed, Trained - Teaching and developing others
Motivated, Inspired, Empowered, Championed, Rallied - Influencing and energizing teams
Mobilized, United, Galvanized, Energized - Bringing people together for a common goal
Choose based on your actual activity. If you had formal direct reports, “supervised” or “managed” fits. If you influenced without authority, “motivated” or “rallied” might be more accurate.
Strategic Direction
These verbs work best for senior-level roles or when you initiated significant changes:
Spearheaded, Pioneered, Initiated, Launched, Established - Starting something new
Orchestrated, Directed, Steered, Navigated, Charted - Guiding complex initiatives
Envisioned, Conceptualized, Architected, Designed - Creating the vision or framework
Decision Making
Use these when you had authority to make calls and set direction:
Decided, Determined, Resolved, Settled, Concluded - Making final decisions
Authorized, Approved, Sanctioned, Endorsed - Granting permission or approval
Prioritized, Allocated, Designated, Assigned - Distributing resources or tasks
Example Bullets:
“Spearheaded company-wide digital transformation affecting 500+ employees, reducing manual processes by 60% and saving 2,000 hours quarterly”
“Mentored 12 junior developers through formal development program, with 8 promoted to senior roles within 18 months”
“Orchestrated cross-departmental cost reduction initiative across finance, operations, and IT, generating $2M in annual savings”
Notice how each example pairs the action verb with specific scope (numbers, scale) and measurable results.
Communication and Collaboration
Communication verbs demonstrate your ability to share information, influence others, and work across teams. These skills matter for virtually every role.
Verbal Communication
Presented, Pitched, Proposed, Articulated, Conveyed - Formal speaking and presentations
Communicated, Briefed, Reported, Addressed, Spoke - General verbal communication
Negotiated, Persuaded, Influenced, Convinced, Advocated - Influencing and changing minds
Facilitated, Moderated, Mediated - Leading discussions or resolving conflicts
The context matters here. “Presented to board of directors” carries different weight than “presented to team.” Include your audience when it adds credibility.
Written Communication
Authored, Wrote, Composed, Drafted, Documented - Creating written content
Published, Edited, Revised, Proofread, Crafted - Refining written materials
Corresponded, Reported, Summarized, Synthesized - Condensing or conveying information
Collaboration
Collaborated, Partnered, Cooperated, Coordinated, Aligned - Working with others
Unified, Consolidated, Integrated, Merged, Combined - Bringing things together
Liaised, Interfaced, Engaged, Connected - Serving as a link between groups
Example Bullets:
“Presented quarterly business results to board of directors and 50+ stakeholders, securing approval for $5M expansion into new market”
“Authored comprehensive API documentation and integration guides, reducing developer onboarding time by 40% and support tickets by 25%”
“Collaborated with product, engineering, marketing, sales, and customer success teams to launch integrated customer experience platform serving 10K+ users”
Achievement and Results
Results-oriented verbs are the heart of accomplishment statements. These demonstrate your impact and value.
Improvement and Optimization
Improved, Enhanced, Upgraded, Refined, Strengthened - Making things better
Optimized, Streamlined, Simplified, Rationalized, Reorganized - Increasing efficiency
Modernized, Revitalized, Transformed, Revolutionized, Overhauled - Significant changes
Accelerated, Expedited, Fast-tracked, Advanced - Increasing speed
Choose the intensity of your verb based on the scale of change. “Streamlined” suggests incremental improvement while “revolutionized” indicates fundamental transformation.
Growth and Expansion
Grew, Expanded, Increased, Boosted, Elevated - General growth
Doubled, Tripled, Multiplied, Amplified, Maximized - Significant scaling
Scaled, Extended, Broadened, Widened, Diversified - Expanding scope or reach
Success and Accomplishment
Achieved, Accomplished, Attained, Delivered, Exceeded - Meeting or surpassing goals
Surpassed, Outperformed, Succeeded, Won, Earned - Competitive success
Secured, Captured, Gained, Obtained, Acquired - Winning or obtaining something
Example Bullets:
“Optimized e-commerce checkout process through A/B testing and user research, increasing conversion rate from 2.3% to 4.1% and adding $380K in annual revenue”
“Grew B2B customer base by 250% over 18 months through account-based marketing strategy, expanding from 40 to 140 enterprise clients”
“Exceeded annual sales quota by 145% for three consecutive years (2021-2023), ranking in top 5% of 200-person sales organization”
See how each example includes specific metrics, timeframes, and context that proves the claimed achievement?
Problem-Solving and Analysis
Analytical and problem-solving verbs demonstrate critical thinking and your ability to diagnose and fix issues.
Investigation and Analysis
Analyzed, Evaluated, Assessed, Examined, Investigated - Studying and reviewing
Researched, Studied, Explored, Surveyed, Reviewed - In-depth examination
Diagnosed, Identified, Pinpointed, Uncovered, Discovered - Finding root causes
Measured, Quantified, Calculated, Determined, Gauged - Putting numbers to things
Problem Resolution
Solved, Resolved, Fixed, Corrected, Rectified - Fixing problems
Troubleshot, Debugged, Remedied, Addressed, Mitigated - Technical or complex problem-solving
Eliminated, Removed, Reduced, Decreased, Minimized - Reducing or removing issues
Strategic Thinking
Strategized, Planned, Designed, Developed, Formulated - Creating approaches
Devised, Conceived, Created, Innovated, Invented - Coming up with new solutions
Forecasted, Projected, Anticipated, Predicted, Envisioned - Forward-thinking planning
Example Bullets:
“Analyzed 18 months of customer churn data across 5,000 accounts to identify 3 key pain points, directly informing product roadmap and reducing churn by 22%”
“Resolved critical system outage affecting 50K users within 90 minutes by diagnosing database connection issue and implementing emergency fix”
“Devised new SaaS pricing strategy based on competitor analysis and customer research, increasing profit margins by 18% while maintaining conversion rates”
Project and Program Management
Project management verbs demonstrate organizational skills and your ability to deliver results on time and on budget.
Planning and Organization
Planned, Organized, Coordinated, Scheduled, Arranged - Setting things up
Structured, Systematized, Prioritized, Sequenced, Ordered - Creating order and systems
Prepared, Established, Formulated, Outlined, Mapped - Creating frameworks and plans
Execution and Implementation
Executed, Implemented, Deployed, Launched, Rolled out - Making things happen
Delivered, Completed, Finished, Fulfilled, Accomplished - Bringing to completion
Operated, Administered, Conducted, Performed, Carried out - Day-to-day execution
Monitoring and Control
Monitored, Tracked, Measured, Supervised, Oversaw - Watching progress
Controlled, Regulated, Governed, Managed, Maintained - Keeping things on track
Ensured, Verified, Validated, Confirmed, Checked - Quality control and compliance
Example Bullets:
“Planned and executed 15-month ERP implementation for 1,200-person organization, completing 6 weeks ahead of schedule and $200K under budget”
“Delivered 12 concurrent software projects totaling $3M in value, maintaining 100% on-time delivery rate across distributed team of 25”
“Monitored project milestones and resource allocation across $5M portfolio, ensuring 98% on-time delivery rate and proactively addressing risks”
Technical and Specialized
Technical verbs demonstrate hands-on expertise and specialized skills. Be specific about what you built or implemented.
Building and Creating
Built, Constructed, Assembled, Fabricated, Engineered - Physical or digital building
Developed, Created, Designed, Programmed, Coded - Software and digital creation
Established, Founded, Instituted, Inaugurated, Initiated - Starting something from scratch
Generated, Produced, Manufactured, Crafted, Formed - Creating outputs
Technical Implementation
Configured, Customized, Integrated, Deployed, Installed - Setting up systems
Automated, Programmed, Scripted, Engineered, Architected - Creating automated solutions
Migrated, Upgraded, Converted, Transitioned, Transferred - Moving between systems
Tested, Debugged, Validated, Verified, Quality-assured - Ensuring quality
Maintenance and Support
Maintained, Sustained, Preserved, Serviced, Supported - Keeping systems running
Updated, Refreshed, Renewed, Restored, Repaired - Fixing and improving
Administered, Managed, Operated, Ran, Oversaw - Day-to-day system management
Example Bullets:
“Built microservices architecture using Node.js and Docker, supporting 1M+ daily transactions with 99.9% uptime”
“Automated manual data reporting process using Python scripts, eliminating 15 hours of weekly work and reducing errors by 95%”
“Migrated legacy SQL Server database to AWS cloud platform with zero downtime, improving query performance by 200% and reducing hosting costs by $40K annually”
Financial and Business
Financial verbs prove business acumen and bottom-line impact. Always include specific numbers and outcomes.
Financial Management
Budgeted, Allocated, Forecasted, Projected, Estimated - Planning finances
Audited, Reconciled, Balanced, Verified, Validated - Ensuring accuracy
Reduced costs, Cut expenses, Saved, Conserved, Economized - Saving money
Secured funding, Raised capital, Financed, Funded, Invested - Obtaining resources
Business Development
Generated revenue, Sold, Marketed, Promoted, Advertised - Creating income
Negotiated, Closed, Secured, Landed, Won - Finalizing deals
Cultivated, Developed, Established, Built, Forged - Building relationships
Pitched, Proposed, Presented, Offered, Recommended - Selling ideas or products
Sales and Customer Relations
Sold, Marketed, Promoted, Demonstrated, Showcased - Moving products or services
Acquired, Attracted, Recruited, Engaged, Onboarded - Getting new customers
Retained, Maintained, Sustained, Preserved, Kept - Keeping existing customers
Serviced, Supported, Assisted, Helped, Enabled - Customer support (use sparingly)
Example Bullets:
“Managed $5M annual department budget across 8 cost centers, reducing operational costs by 12% while maintaining service levels and team satisfaction”
“Secured 15 new enterprise clients in healthcare vertical worth $3M in annual recurring revenue, exceeding new business target by 180%”
“Retained 94% of customer base through proactive relationship management program, compared to industry average of 78%”
Data and Research
Data skills are increasingly valuable across all industries. These verbs demonstrate analytical capabilities.
Data Analysis
Analyzed, Interpreted, Evaluated, Assessed, Examined - Making sense of data
Modeled, Simulated, Forecasted, Predicted, Projected - Using data for predictions
Visualized, Illustrated, Charted, Graphed, Mapped - Presenting data visually
Extracted, Mined, Collected, Gathered, Compiled - Obtaining and organizing data
Research and Investigation
Researched, Investigated, Explored, Studied, Examined - Conducting research
Surveyed, Polled, Interviewed, Questioned, Consulted - Gathering information from people
Discovered, Found, Uncovered, Identified, Determined - Finding insights
Validated, Verified, Confirmed, Substantiated, Proved - Ensuring accuracy
Example Bullets:
“Analyzed 2 years of customer behavior data across 15K accounts to identify upsell opportunity worth $800K in annual revenue”
“Researched emerging market trends through competitive analysis and customer interviews, informing 3-year product strategy adopted by executive team”
“Visualized complex sales and marketing datasets in Tableau dashboards, enabling executive decision-making and reducing reporting time by 70%”
Training and Development
Training verbs show leadership through knowledge sharing and team development.
Teaching and Training
Trained, Taught, Instructed, Educated, Coached - Direct teaching
Mentored, Guided, Counseled, Advised, Supported - One-on-one development
Demonstrated, Showed, Explained, Illustrated, Clarified - Making things clear
Developed curriculum, Designed training, Created programs - Building training from scratch
Knowledge Transfer
Documented, Recorded, Catalogued, Archived, Preserved - Capturing knowledge
Shared, Disseminated, Distributed, Communicated, Conveyed - Spreading information
Published, Presented, Delivered, Conducted, Facilitated - Formal knowledge sharing
Example Bullets:
“Trained 50+ employees across 4 departments on new Salesforce CRM system, achieving 98% adoption rate within first month”
“Developed comprehensive onboarding program for new sales hires, reducing ramp-up time by 30% and improving first-quarter quota attainment by 25%”
“Documented previously undocumented tribal knowledge into company wiki with 150+ articles, accessed 1,000+ times in first 6 months”
Creative and Innovation
Creative verbs showcase originality and innovation. Use these when you’ve created something new or thought outside the box.
Design and Creativity
Designed, Created, Conceived, Imagined, Envisioned - Original creation
Illustrated, Sketched, Drew, Rendered, Visualized - Visual creation
Branded, Styled, Fashioned, Crafted, Composed - Creating branded materials
Innovated, Invented, Pioneered, Originated, Introduced - Creating something new
Content Creation
Wrote, Authored, Composed, Drafted, Created - Writing content
Produced, Published, Released, Launched, Issued - Bringing content to market
Edited, Refined, Polished, Perfected, Enhanced - Improving content
Curated, Selected, Compiled, Assembled, Organized - Organizing existing content
Example Bullets:
“Designed mobile app user interface based on user research and usability testing, improving task completion rate by 45% and app store rating from 3.2 to 4.6 stars”
“Created content marketing strategy including blog posts, whitepapers, and case studies, generating 10K monthly organic visitors and 200+ qualified leads”
“Innovated new product feature using machine learning to personalize recommendations, generating $500K in incremental revenue in first quarter”
Verbs to Avoid (And Better Alternatives)
Certain phrases actively weaken your resume. Here’s how to fix them.
Replace “Responsible for”
This is the single worst phrase on resumes. It’s passive, vague, and focuses on duties rather than achievements.
Instead use: Led, Managed, Oversaw, Directed, Handled, Administered, Executed, Delivered
Before: “Responsible for customer service team of 15 people”
After: “Managed customer service team of 15, implementing new training program that increased customer satisfaction from 78% to 92%”
See the difference? The first version just states what was supposed to happen. The second shows what you actually accomplished.
Replace “Helped” or “Assisted”
Unless you truly played a minor supporting role, these verbs undersell your contribution.
Instead use: Supported, Enabled, Facilitated, Contributed, Collaborated, Partnered
Even better: Use a verb that describes what you actually did. If you “helped with product launch,” what specifically did you do? Write content? Coordinate timelines? Manage vendors?
Before: “Helped with product launch initiatives”
After: “Contributed to product launch by developing go-to-market strategy and training sales team, generating $2M in first-year revenue”
Replace “Worked on”
This phrase conveys almost nothing about your role or contribution.
Instead use: Developed, Created, Built, Designed, Executed, Delivered, Implemented
Before: “Worked on new company website”
After: “Developed new company website using WordPress and custom CSS, increasing online conversions by 35% and reducing bounce rate by 20%”
Replace “Did” or “Made”
These verbs are too vague to be useful. Be specific about the action.
Instead use: Specific action verbs based on what you actually did
Before: “Made improvements to customer onboarding process”
After: “Streamlined customer onboarding process by automating email sequences and creating video tutorials, reducing onboarding time from 2 weeks to 3 days”
Replace Generic “Managed”
“Managed” isn’t wrong, but it’s overused and vague. What kind of management did you do?
Instead use: More specific verbs based on what you actually managed
Before: “Managed multiple projects simultaneously”
After: “Orchestrated 5 concurrent product launches across 3 international markets, coordinating 8 cross-functional teams and delivering all projects on time”
Before: “Managed social media accounts”
After: “Grew social media following by 340% across Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter through data-driven content strategy and paid promotion”
How to Choose the Right Action Verb
Not all action verbs work for all situations. Here’s how to select the most effective verb for your specific accomplishment.
Match the Verb to Your Role Level
Your language should reflect your actual level of responsibility. Inflating or deflating your role damages credibility. This is especially important when making a career change.
Entry-Level and Junior Roles
At the beginning of your career, you’re learning, contributing to team efforts, and taking on increasing responsibility.
Appropriate verbs: Supported, Assisted, Contributed, Participated, Collaborated, Helped, Aided, Facilitated, Enabled
Also use: Learned, Developed skills, Gained experience, Executed, Completed, Delivered
Example: “Supported senior analysts by gathering market research data, contributing to 3 client presentations that won $500K in new business”
This is honest about the supporting role while still showing meaningful contribution.
Mid-Level and Experienced Roles
At this level, you’re running projects, making decisions, and driving results independently.
Appropriate verbs: Led, Managed, Coordinated, Executed, Delivered, Improved, Optimized, Enhanced, Streamlined, Developed, Created, Implemented, Launched
Example: “Led cross-functional team of 8 to redesign customer onboarding flow, reducing time-to-value by 40% and increasing activation rate by 25%”
This shows clear leadership and ownership of outcomes.
Senior-Level and Executive Roles
Senior roles require language that conveys strategic thinking, organizational impact, and vision.
Appropriate verbs: Directed, Spearheaded, Orchestrated, Championed, Transformed, Revolutionized, Pioneered, Established, Architected, Strategized, Envisioned
Example: “Spearheaded digital transformation strategy across 5,000-person organization, establishing new technology roadmap and achieving $12M in operational savings”
This demonstrates the scope and strategic nature of senior-level work.
Match the Verb to the Achievement
Different types of accomplishments call for different verbs. Choose language that amplifies your specific type of impact.
For Cost Savings
Use: Reduced, Cut, Saved, Decreased, Minimized, Eliminated, Conserved, Streamlined
Example: “Eliminated redundant software subscriptions across 12 departments, saving $180K annually while maintaining functionality”
For Revenue Growth
Use: Increased, Grew, Generated, Boosted, Expanded, Drove, Delivered, Captured
Example: “Grew regional sales by 67% year-over-year through strategic account management and new client acquisition”
For Quality Improvement
Use: Enhanced, Improved, Elevated, Upgraded, Refined, Optimized, Perfected
Example: “Enhanced code review process by implementing automated testing, reducing production bugs by 45%”
For Speed and Efficiency
Use: Accelerated, Expedited, Streamlined, Simplified, Automated, Fast-tracked
Example: “Automated monthly reporting process using Python, reducing completion time from 8 hours to 20 minutes”
For Problem-Solving
Use: Resolved, Solved, Fixed, Corrected, Diagnosed, Troubleshot, Remedied
Example: “Diagnosed and resolved recurring system performance issue, eliminating 90% of customer complaints”
For Starting Something New
Use: Launched, Pioneered, Established, Founded, Initiated, Introduced, Created
Example: “Launched company’s first customer advocacy program, recruiting 50 brand ambassadors who generated 200+ referrals”
Vary Your Verbs Throughout Your Resume
Repetition makes your resume boring and suggests limited vocabulary or effort. Strategic variation keeps readers engaged.
Create a Verb Bank
Before writing, make a list of 10-15 verbs that accurately describe your work. Use different ones throughout your resume.
If you’ve used “Managed” once, try these alternatives next time: - Directed, Supervised, Oversaw, Led, Coordinated, Administered, Governed, Controlled
Build Rhythm Within Each Role
Within a single job, vary the types of actions to show range:
“Analyzed customer feedback data to identify pain points, developed new feature roadmap based on insights, implemented prioritized features, and achieved 40% increase in user satisfaction”
This progression shows analytical skills, strategic planning, execution, and measurable results - all in one role.
Avoid Repetition Across Roles
If every job on your resume starts with “Managed team of X,” you sound one-dimensional. Mix it up:
- Job 1: “Led cross-functional team of 12…”
- Job 2: “Directed operations team of 8…”
- Job 3: “Supervised customer service team of 15…”
Even better, lead with different types of accomplishments entirely.
Action Verb Checklist
Use this checklist before submitting your resume to ensure you’re using action verbs effectively.
Resume Review Checklist
- [ ] Every bullet point starts with a strong action verb
- [ ] Zero bullets start with “Responsible for” or “Duties included”
- [ ] Minimal use of weak verbs like “helped,” “worked on,” or “did”
- [ ] Verbs are varied throughout the resume (no excessive repetition)
- [ ] Verbs match your actual role level and scope of responsibility
- [ ] Past tense used consistently for all previous roles
- [ ] Present tense used consistently for current role (if applicable)
- [ ] Verbs align with job description language when truthful and relevant
- [ ] Each verb accurately represents your actual contribution
- [ ] Action verbs are paired with specific results, metrics, or outcomes
- [ ] All passive voice constructions removed
- [ ] No exaggeration or inflation of your role
- [ ] Technical verbs used correctly (don’t say “architected” if you didn’t)
- [ ] Sentence structure is clear and professional
- [ ] Resume reads smoothly without awkward or forced language
Common Mistakes with Action Verbs
Even when people understand the importance of action verbs, they often make these mistakes:
Mistake 1: Using Verbs That Overstate Your Role
The problem: Claiming you “spearheaded” when you only contributed damages your credibility. Hiring managers can spot inflated language, and it creates distrust.
Example of overstatement: “Spearheaded company-wide initiative to improve culture” when you actually participated in a committee
Honest version: “Contributed to culture improvement committee, developing employee recognition program that increased participation by 60%”
How to fix it: Be honest about your level of involvement. It’s better to be accurate with a lesser verb than dishonest with a powerful one.
Mistake 2: Being Too Modest with Your Contributions
The problem: Underselling your accomplishments with weak verbs when you actually led the work. Many people, especially women and underrepresented groups, downplay their achievements.
Example of underselling: “Helped with website redesign” when you actually managed the entire project
Stronger version: “Led website redesign project from concept through launch, coordinating designers, developers, and stakeholders”
How to fix it: If you led it, say you led it. If you were responsible for outcomes, claim that responsibility. Review your accomplishments with a friend or mentor who can help you identify where you’re being too modest.
Mistake 3: Inconsistent Verb Tense
The problem: Mixing past and present tense randomly makes your resume look sloppy and unprofessional.
Example: “Managed team (past tense), improve processes (present tense), achieved results (past tense)” - all for the same past role
How to fix it: Use past tense for all previous positions. Use present tense only for your current position. Review carefully before submitting.
Mistake 4: Starting Bullets with Non-Action Words
The problem: Some bullets start with “Responsible for,” “Duties included,” “Tasked with,” or other passive constructions.
Example: “Duties included managing customer accounts, resolving issues, and meeting sales targets”
Better version: Three separate bullets: - “Managed portfolio of 50+ enterprise customer accounts worth $3M annually” - “Resolved escalated customer issues with 95% satisfaction rating” - “Exceeded quarterly sales targets by average of 30% for 2 consecutive years”
How to fix it: Every bullet must start with an action verb. No exceptions.
Mistake 5: Using the Same Verb Repeatedly
The problem: When every bullet starts with “managed” or “developed,” your resume becomes monotonous.
Example: Resume with 8 bullets starting with “Managed”
How to fix it: Create variety. If you managed different things, use different verbs: led, directed, supervised, oversaw, coordinated, administered, governed.
Mistake 6: Choosing Impressive Words Over Accurate Ones
The problem: Using “revolutionized” when you made incremental improvements, or “architected” when you configured existing tools.
Example: “Revolutionized sales process” when you actually just updated a few forms
Honest version: “Streamlined sales process by digitizing paper forms, reducing processing time by 2 days”
How to fix it: Choose the verb that most accurately describes the scale and nature of your work. Smaller, accurate verbs build more trust than inflated, inaccurate ones.
Mistake 7: Forgetting to Include Results
The problem: Starting with an action verb but forgetting to include the outcome or impact.
Example: “Developed new training program” - Okay, but so what?
Better version: “Developed new employee training program, reducing onboarding time by 40% and improving 90-day retention by 15%”
How to fix it: For every bullet point, ask yourself “So what?” or “What was the result?” Add that information.
Real-World Examples: Before and After
See how action verbs transform real resume bullets. These examples also demonstrate the importance of ATS optimization—using the right verbs helps your resume pass automated screening.
Marketing Manager Example
Before: “Responsible for social media marketing. Worked on content creation and helped increase followers.”
After: “Grew social media audience by 425% (5K to 26K followers) across Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok by developing data-driven content strategy and executing 3 viral campaigns generating 2M+ impressions”
What changed: Replaced passive “responsible for” with active “grew,” eliminated vague “worked on” and “helped,” added specific metrics and outcomes.
Software Engineer Example
Before: “Worked on backend development. Responsible for API improvements. Helped with performance issues.”
After: “Engineered RESTful API serving 500K daily requests, optimizing database queries to reduce average response time by 200ms and eliminate timeout errors”
What changed: Replaced vague “worked on” with specific “engineered,” showed scale and impact with metrics.
Customer Success Manager Example
Before: “Managed customer accounts. Helped customers solve problems. Worked on retention strategies.”
After: “Managed portfolio of 75 enterprise accounts worth $8M ARR, achieving 96% renewal rate and identifying $1.2M in expansion revenue through quarterly business reviews and strategic account planning”
What changed: Added specifics about what was managed, replaced “helped” with specific value delivered, transformed vague “worked on” into concrete results.
Project Manager Example
Before: “Responsible for managing multiple projects. Worked with different teams. Helped deliver projects on time.”
After: “Orchestrated 8 concurrent product development projects totaling $4M budget, coordinating cross-functional teams of 40+ across engineering, design, and marketing to deliver 95% on time and 100% within budget”
What changed: “Orchestrated” shows complex coordination, specific numbers prove scale and success, eliminated all weak passive language.
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