Power Verbs for Resumes

Tips for choosing power verbs. 
1. Take time to choose the one that most accurately describes what you did.
2. Use past tense verbs – even for current positions for uniformity.
3. Try not to repeat the same verbs throughout your resume. 

Planning

Example: Developed and implemented a training program that resulted in a 45% increase in employee satisfaction

 

Administered Commissioned Developed Evaluated      
Formulated Observed Prepared        
Researched Revised Studied        
             
Administered Commissioned Developed Evaluated Formulated Observed Prepared
Researched Revised Studied        
Anticipated Determined Devised Forecasted Identified Planned Prioritized
Reserved Strategized Tailored        
 

Organizing

Example: Coordinated weekly office schedules for 8 employees

Acquired Appointed Authorized Collected Customized Facilitated Issued Ordered Retrieved Simplified
Activated Arranged Cataloged Committed Delegated Housed Linked Organized Routed Sought
Adjusted Assembled Centralized Confirmed Designated Implemented Logged Procured Scheduled Straightened
Allocated Assessed Charted Contracted Designed Incorporated Mapped out Programmed Secured Suggested
Altered Assigned Classified Coordinated Established Instituted Obtained Recruited Selected Tracked

Executing

Example: Handled 20-35+ customer calls per shift regarding coverage changes, renewal rates and billing procedures

Acted Collected Displayed Exercised Input Merchandised Produced Proved Sold
Administered Completed Distributed Forwarded Installed Operated Proofed Performed Stocked
Carried out Conducted Entered Handled Labored Processed Prospected Shipped Transacted

Supervising

Example: Developed and supervised the implementation of new computer filing system that reduced paper use by 35%

Adjusted Certified Correlated Examined Indexed Measured Overhauled Refined Screened Supplied
Analyzed Compared Developed Explored Judged Modified Oversaw Regulated Set Tightened
Apportioned Controlled Discovered Graded Licensed Monitored Policed Reviewed Scrutinized Traced
Assessed Corrected Established Inspected Maintained Officiated Prohibited Revised Supervised Updated

Leading

Example: Trained 20+ new employees in computer procedures over a 2-year period

Accelerated Changed Elected Encouraged Founded Inspired Mentored Promoted Spearheaded Trained
Assumed Conducted Employed Enlisted Guided Involved Motivated Raised Stimulated Transformed
Caused Directed Hired Envisioned Influenced Led Originated Recognized for Strengthened Visualized
Chaired Disproved Empowered Fostered Initiated Managed Pioneered Set goals Supervised  

Getting Results

Example: Increased student participation by 25% over a 6-month period

Accomplished Boosted Contributed Eliminated Expanded Generated Increased Launched Orchestrated Received
Achieved Built Delivered Enlarged Expedited Grew Innovated Lightened Overcame Reduced (losses)
Added Combined Demonstrated Enjoyed Extended Guaranteed Integrated Minimized Prevailed Rejuvenated
Advanced Completed Diminished Enlisted Finalized Hastened Introduced Modernized Produced Renovated
Attained Consolidated Earned Ensured Fulfilled Heightened Invented Obtained Qualified Restored
Augmented Constructed Eclipsed Excelled Gained Improved Joined Opened Realized Targeted

Problem Solving

Example: Streamlined ordering through the use of computer technology, decreasing wait time from 6 to 2 days

Alleviated Collaborated Created Detected Foresaw Investigated Repaired Revived Synthesized
Analyzed Conceived Debugged Determined Formulated Recommended Resolved Satisfied Theorized
Applied Conceptualized Decided Diagnosed Found Remedied Revamped Solved  
Brainstormed Crafted Deciphered Engineered Gathered Remodeled Revitalized Streamlined  

Quantitative

Example: converted files from COBAL to JAVA in order to increase compatibility with current systems

Accounted for Balanced Compiled Converted Earned Financed Maximized Projected Reconciled Totaled
Appraised Budgeted Compounded Counted Enumerated Grossed Multiplied Purchased Recorded  
Approximated Calculated Computed Dispensed Estimated Increased Netted Quantified Reduced  
Audited Checked Conserved Dispersed Figured Inventoried Profited Rated Tabulated  

Communicating

Example: Presented to groups of 30+ transfer students on a weekly basis concerning university policies and procedures

Acted Attested Convinced Dramatized Highlighted Justified Publicized Revealed Submitted Tested
Adapted Briefed Consulted Edited Illustrated Lectured Queried Sanctioned Substantiated Taught
Admitted Clarified Corresponded Educated Improvised Marketed Questioned Settled Suggested Translated
Addressed Cleared up Critiqued Elicited Indicated Mediated Referred Shaped Summarized Transmitted
Allowed Closed Dedicated Explained Inferred Moderated Reinforced Smoothed Supplemented Verified
Amended Communicated Defined Extracted Informed Negotiated Related Specified Supported Welcomed
Arbitrated Composed Deliberated Fabricated Instructed Perceived Rendered Spoke Surveyed Wrote
Argued Consented Demonstrated Fashioned Interpreted Persuaded Reported Sold Synthesized  
Ascertained Concluded Drafted Greeted Interviewed Presented Represented Solicited Systematized  

Helping

Example: Provided academic support for 30+ at-risk primary school students through comprehensive after-school program

Aided Assisted Continued Eased Enhanced Interceded Prescribed Relieved Served
Accommodated Assured Cooperated Elevated Enriched Mobilized Provided Rescued Sustained
Advised Bolstered Counseled Enabled Familiarized Modeled Protected Returned Tutored
Alleviated Coached Dealt Endorsed Helped Polished Rehabilitated Saved Validated