List of Strong Action Verbs for a Resume
Your list of strong action verbs for a resume needs to focus on your professional strengths first and foremost. What to avoid is also important. You might list, "helped complete large project within a team" on your resume, but why not instead use the verb, "accelerated" so this reads, "accelerated completion of a large project working within a team environment." Can you see the difference that strong action verb make? Forget passive, bland verbs and inject some action verbs into your resume instead.
Give your resume some punch
To pack some punch into your resume, use verbs like:
- enhanced
- improved
- diagnosed
- focused
- generated
- motivated
- energized
- piloted
- qualified
- shaped
- simplified
- advocated
- procured
- polished
- slashed
- secured
- utilized
- verified
- troubleshoot
- tripled
- won
Never say, "found out" when you can say, "diagnosed." "Found out" makes it sound like you merely stumbled upon a solution, rather than the implied critical thinking that comes with "diagnosing" a problem to find a solution. One verb change does not seem like much, but it can make a big difference to how a potential employer views you on paper. If you do not look good on paper, then your chances of receiving an interview are slim.
Achieving an interview is of course your goal, and it is often the most challenging part of finding a job. Your first impression is not your handshake or your smile; it is your resume. Impress that potential employer by incorporating action verbs wherever you can and forgoing the passive, boring verbs.