Unlocking the Power of Action Verbs on Your Resume
Crafting an impressive resume as a newcomer to Australia is more than just listing your experiences – it’s about strategically selecting action verbs that resonate with recruiters. Weak and passive verbs, business clichés, and tired phrases can weaken the impact of your resume. That’s why it’s crucial to harness the strength of dynamic action verbs and steer clear of using the same ones repeatedly (think ‘assisted’, ‘oversaw’, and ‘utilised’).
Key points
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- Action verb choice matters: When crafting a standout resume, it’s essential for newcomers to Australia to strategically select dynamic action verbs, as these verbs have the power to convey specifics and highlight contributions effectively.
- Avoid weak and repetitive verbs: Weak and passive verbs, clichés, and overused phrases can diminish the impact of a resume, emphasizing the importance of steering clear from these and opting for stronger, more impactful action verbs.
- Elevating confidence and impact: Utilizing dynamic action verbs on a resume enhances not only the clarity of one’s contributions but also instills a strong sense of confidence, making the resume more engaging and persuasive to recruiters.
Action verbs, unlike their boring counterparts, possess a remarkable ability to convey specifics, interpret your contributions, and inject your resume with a sense of unwavering confidence.
Here’s an illustration:
❌ Ordinary and vague: Attended marketing conferences to network with professionals.
✅ Energised and specific: Participated in marketing conferences to establish connections with industry leaders and innovators.
❌ Common and uninspiring: Managed a team of sales representatives.
✅ Dynamic and engaging: Guided and motivated a team of sales representatives, achieving a 15% boost in monthly revenue.
❌ Conventional and unimpressive: Assisted in data analysis for financial reports.
✅ Impactful and clear: Led data analysis efforts to generate accurate financial reports, aiding in strategic decision-making.
❌ Dull and generic: Took care of customer inquiries via phone and email.
✅ Vibrant and distinctive: Addressed customer inquiries with a friendly and prompt approach through phone and email, contributing to a 95% satisfaction rate.
❌ Plain and lacking detail: Helped with event planning and coordination.
✅ Dynamic and informative: Drove event planning and coordination efforts, resulting in a successful event attended by 500+ guests.
See the added strength and accuracy in the second choice? The commanding action verb positioned at the forefront of the sentence immediately spotlights your contribution.
Top-notch Tip: Amplify the impact of your action verbs by coupling them with quantifiable achievements. For instance, ‘Championed the integration of user feedback in program enhancements, resulting in a remarkable 50% surge in customer satisfaction ratings’.
Guess what? There’s a simple technique at your disposal. All you need to do is trade in dull expressions and clichéd terms in your application with impactful action verbs designed for great resumes. You won’t have to scour anywhere because we’ve put together a list of resume action verbs that will truly impress any recruiter. You’ll uncover them right here in this article, quicker than you can utter “voila!”
Action verbs for when you led a project
If you were in charge of a project or initiative from start to finish, skip “led” and instead try:
Administered
Arranged
Chaired
Coordinated
Directed
Executed
Delegated
Headed
Managed
Operated
Orchestrated
Organised
Oversaw
Planned
Produced
Programmed
Spearheaded
Actions for when you envisioned and brought a project to life
And if you actually developed, created, or introduced that project into your company? Try:
Built
Charted
Created
Designed
Developed
Devised
Founded
Engineered
Established
Formalised
Formed
Formulated
Implemented
Incorporated
Initiated
Instituted
Introduced
Launched
Pioneered
Proposed
Action verbs for when you increased efficiency, productivity, profit, sales, revenue, or customer satisfaction (or reduced costs or time spent)
If you can show that your work boosted the company’s numbers in some way, you’re bound to impress. In these cases, consider:
Accelerated
Achieved
Advanced
Amplified
Boosted
Capitalised
Conserved
Consolidated
Decreased
Deducted
Delivered
Enhanced
Expanded
Expedited
Furthered
Gained
Generated
Improved
Increased
Lifted
Maximised
Outpaced
Reconciled
Reduced
Saved
Stimulated
Sustained
Yielded
Action verbs for when you changed or improved something
Did you bring your department’s invoicing system out of the Stone Age and into the 21st century? Talk about the amazing changes you made at your office with these words:
Centralised
Clarified
Converted
Customised
Digitised
Integrated
Merged
Modernised
Modified
Overhauled
Redesigned
Refined
Refocused
Rehabilitated
Remodeled
Reorganised
Replaced
Restructured
Revamped
Revitalised
Simplified
Standardised
Streamlined
Strengthened
Transformed
Updated
Upgraded
Action verbs for when you managed a team
While “managed” may have a place on your resume (especially if it’s a keyword), phrases like “Managed a team…” or “Managed employees…” are just reciting your job duties. Instead, you can show what an inspirational leader you were with terms like:
Aligned
Cultivated
Directed
Enabled
Facilitated
Fostered
Guided
Hired
Mentored
Mobilised
Motivated
Recruited
Shaped
Supervised
Taught
Trained
Unified
United
Action verbs for when you brought in partners, funding, resources, or clients
Were you “responsible for” a great new partner, sponsor, source of funding, or client? Try:
Acquired
Closed
Forged
Navigated
Negotiated
Partnered
Pitched
Secured
Signed
Sourced
Upsold
Action verbs for when you supported customers
Because monitoring the phones, answering questions, or providing customer service really means you’re advising customers and meeting their needs, use:
Advised
Advocated
Coached
Consulted
Educated
Fielded
Informed
Recommended
Resolved
Action verbs for when you did research or analysis
Did your job include research, analysis, or fact-finding? Mix up your verbiage with these words:
Analysed
Assembled
Assessed
Audited
Calculated
Compiled
Discovered
Evaluated
Examined
Explored
Forecasted
Identified
Interpreted
Interviewed
Investigated
Mapped
Measured
Modeled
Projected
Qualified
Quantified
Reported
Surveyed
Tested
Tracked
Visualised
Action verbs for when you communicated
Was writing, speaking, lobbying, or otherwise communicating part of your gig? You can explain just how compelling you were with words like:
Authored
Briefed
Campaigned
Coauthored
Composed
Conveyed
Convinced
Corresponded
Counseled
Critiqued
Defined
Documented
Drafted
Edited
Illustrated
Lobbied
Outlined
Persuaded
Presented
Promoted
Publicised
Reviewed
Wrote
Action verbs for when you oversaw or regulated
Whether you enforced protocol or managed your department’s requests, describe what you really did, better, with these words:
Adjudicated
Authorised
Blocked
Dispatched
Enforced
Ensured
Inspected
Itemised
Monitored
Screened
Scrutinised
Verified
Action verbs for when you achieved something
Did you hit your goals? Win a coveted department award? Don’t forget to include that on your resume, with words like:
Attained
Completed
Demonstrated
Finished
Earned
Exceeded
Outperformed
Overcame
Reached
Showcased
Succeeded
Surpassed
Targeted
Won
Here’s everything you learned in this article:
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- You can use action verbs to spice up your resume and add variety to your language. They are mostly verbs but sometimes can also be adjectives.
- To decide which action verbs to use, do a detailed scan of the job description and identify the key responsibilities the employer is looking for. Your action verbs will be focusing how you have shown these traits. Be careful not to use more than one power word per sentence.
- Try using action verbs more often than power adjectives. It’s all about action!
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Looking for more ways to improve your resume?
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Looking for more resources to help you with your job search? Check out our other helpful posts on writing effective resumes, effective cover letters, interviewing like a pro, and more!
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👉 Amir’s successful career transition in Australia
👉 How to write a winning cover letter: Tips and tricks
👉 Professional Help with Resume and Australia’s Booming Job Market
