Resume action verbs for what you actually did.
168 strong verbs to start your bullet points with, grouped by the kind of work they describe. Type what you did in plain words, like “trained new staff” or “cut costs”, and the verbs that fit come to the top.
Action verbs by kind of work
Plain words work best, like “trained new staff”, “cut costs” or “responsible for”.
Leading people
You managed, trained or guided other people.
- Led
- Managed
- Supervised
- Mentored
- Coached
- Trained
- Hired
- Recruited
- Onboarded
- Delegated
- Directed
- Oversaw
- Guided
- Chaired
- Headed
- Mobilized
ExampleTrained 6 new support agents, cutting their time to a first solo shift from 4 weeks to 2.
Creating and building
You made something that did not exist before.
- Built
- Created
- Designed
- Developed
- Launched
- Founded
- Established
- Introduced
- Produced
- Wrote
- Drafted
- Authored
- Engineered
- Prototyped
- Pioneered
- Initiated
- Devised
- Formulated
- Instituted
- Composed
- Shipped
ExampleLaunched a weekly parent newsletter that grew from 40 to 310 readers in one term.
Improving and fixing
You made something work better, faster or more simply.
- Improved
- Streamlined
- Simplified
- Redesigned
- Modernized
- Upgraded
- Optimized
- Refined
- Restructured
- Overhauled
- Revamped
- Standardized
- Automated
- Fixed
- Repaired
- Troubleshot
- Stabilized
- Rebuilt
- Transformed
- Refactored
- Migrated
ExampleAutomated the month-end stock report, saving the team about 5 hours a month.
Growing results
Something went up because of your work: sales, sign-ups, scores.
- Increased
- Grew
- Expanded
- Boosted
- Raised
- Generated
- Won
- Secured
- Closed
- Exceeded
- Surpassed
- Achieved
- Doubled
- Tripled
- Accelerated
- Attracted
- Converted
- Retained
- Earned
- Delivered
ExampleGrew repeat orders 18% in six months by adding a follow-up email after delivery.
Saving time and money
Something went down: costs, errors, waiting times, waste.
- Reduced
- Cut
- Saved
- Lowered
- Decreased
- Eliminated
- Minimized
- Consolidated
- Shortened
- Prevented
- Recovered
- Reclaimed
- Trimmed
- Renegotiated
- Halved
ExampleCut average patient waiting time from 40 to 25 minutes by reorganizing the triage rota.
Analyzing and researching
You found something out, measured it or tested it.
- Analyzed
- Researched
- Assessed
- Evaluated
- Audited
- Investigated
- Measured
- Forecasted
- Modeled
- Tested
- Diagnosed
- Identified
- Mapped
- Surveyed
- Quantified
- Reviewed
- Validated
- Benchmarked
- Interpreted
- Calculated
ExampleAnalyzed 14 months of returns data and traced 60% of defects to two suppliers.
Communicating and persuading
You explained, presented, negotiated or wrote for other people.
- Presented
- Negotiated
- Persuaded
- Pitched
- Advocated
- Published
- Edited
- Briefed
- Explained
- Translated
- Facilitated
- Moderated
- Influenced
- Convinced
- Promoted
- Represented
- Reported
- Documented
- Corresponded
ExampleNegotiated new terms with 3 freight carriers, saving $42K a year.
Organizing and running things
You kept projects, events or day-to-day operations on track.
- Coordinated
- Organized
- Planned
- Scheduled
- Prioritized
- Arranged
- Executed
- Implemented
- Administered
- Allocated
- Budgeted
- Tracked
- Monitored
- Maintained
- Processed
- Dispatched
- Sourced
- Procured
- Ran
- Orchestrated
- Prepared
- Completed
ExampleCoordinated a 3-day conference for 450 attendees and finished 8% under budget.
Helping customers, patients and students
You looked after people and solved their problems.
- Supported
- Served
- Resolved
- Advised
- Counseled
- Educated
- Taught
- Tutored
- Treated
- Triaged
- Partnered
- Collaborated
- Liaised
- Volunteered
ExampleResolved an average of 45 customer tickets a day while keeping satisfaction above 95%.
Found the right verb?
Put it to work in your resume. The Studio checks every bullet as you write, and the bullet checker will tell you which of the ones you have now open weakly.
Swap these out
Weak openers and what to use instead.
These are the openings that most often make a bullet read like a job description. Pick the replacement that matches what you really did, not the most impressive one.
| Instead of | Why it's weak | Try |
|---|---|---|
| Responsible for | Describes the job, not what you did in it. | Led, Managed, Ran, Oversaw |
| Worked on | Does not say what your part was. | Built, Developed, Delivered, Improved |
| Helped with | Hides your contribution behind someone else's. | Supported, Partnered, Coordinated, Prepared |
| Assisted with | Same problem as “helped”: what did you do? | Prepared, Organized, Processed, Supported |
| Participated in | Being there is not an achievement. Your part is. | Presented, Drafted, Tested, Organized |
| In charge of | A title, not an action. | Led, Directed, Headed, Supervised |
| Made | Too vague to picture. | Created, Built, Designed, Produced |
| Handled | Says you touched it, not what changed. | Resolved, Processed, Managed, Negotiated |
| Used | Names a tool, not a result. | Automated, Analyzed, Built, Streamlined |
| Got | Too casual for a resume. | Won, Secured, Earned, Achieved |
Using them well
A strong verb is only half of a strong bullet.
Pick the verb that's true
If you supported a project, say “Supported”, not “Led”. Interviewers ask about your bullets, and an honest verb is one you can talk about with confidence.
Follow it with a result
The verb says what you did. The rest of the bullet should say what changed: how many, how much, how fast. The bullet checker flags bullets without one.
Vary them
Six bullets that all start with “Managed” blur together. With 9 groups to choose from, there's usually a more exact verb for each line.
Questions
Common questions about resume action verbs.
What is an action verb on a resume?
A verb that says what you did, placed at the start of a bullet point: “Trained”, “Reduced”, “Negotiated”. It tells a recruiter skimming the page what your part was before they read the rest.
Should every bullet start with an action verb?
Nearly every one. Bullets that open with “Responsible for” or “Worked on” describe the job instead of what you achieved in it. Try not to start more than two or three bullets with the same verb.
Are fancier verbs better?
No. “Spearheaded” isn't stronger than “Led”, and a verb that overstates your part can come back to bite you in an interview. Pick the plainest verb that's true, then let the result do the work.
Past or present tense?
Past tense for jobs you've left, present tense for the job you're in now: “Train new staff” in your current role, “Trained new staff” in an old one. Every verb here is listed in the past tense.
Keep going
More free help with your resume.
- Free toolResume keyword scanner
See the skills a job posting asks for most, and which ones your resume is missing.
- Free toolResume bullet checker
Get specific feedback on each bullet point, with stronger verbs and a better opening to try.
- GuideHow to Write Evidence-Based Resume Bullets Without Inventing Metrics
Turn responsibilities into specific, defensible resume evidence using scope, frequency, outcomes, and honest estimates.
- TemplatesATS resume templates
Example resumes for 20 roles, so you can see strong verbs in a finished resume.