Most resume bullet points start with the same tired old words hiring managers have read over and over (think: tasked with, responsible for, experience in) to the point where they’ve lost a lot of their meaning. They also don’t do much to show off your accomplishments, and instead tend to just communicate your job duties. Let’s get a little more creative, shall we?
Next time you update your resume, switch up a few of those common words and phrases with strong, compelling action verbs that will catch hiring managers’ eyes.
What is an action verb and how to use it on your resume?Action verbs convey doing—for example, “She walked to the door,” or, “The dog chased the ball.” On your resume, action verbs show readers you accomplished something at your past jobs, you weren’t just “responsible for” it. Instead you “streamlined” or “coordinated” or “executed” it. You got the job done and you achieved something in the process.
But be careful: Not all action verbs are as strong as others. For example, words like “led” or “handled” may have their place on a resume (sparingly), but don’t give the reader any details about how you did it. Did you lead by assigning work to a team; by creating a road map for a project; by organizing resources, people, and deadlines; or by doing some combination of the three?
Impress hiring managers with these action verbs and secure your next interview! Find the perfect fit by looking for more open jobs on The Muse »
No matter what duty or accomplishment you’re trying to show off, we’ve got just the resume action verb for you. Check out the list below, and get ready to make your resume way more exciting.
If you were in charge of a project or initiative from start to finish, skip “led” and instead try:
And if you actually developed, created, or introduced that project into your company? Try:
What's the best job for you?
Use The Muse to find a job at a company with a culture you love. Select the career path that aligns with you:
