Action Verbs
The way in which you describe your background and skills in a résumé, CV, or cover letter is just as important as the actual information you are presenting.
Use some of these descriptive action verbs to describe your skills, experience, and accomplishments.
Accomplishment Verbs
Achieved
Attained
Completed
Created
Created
Demonstrated
Earned
Exceeded
Expedited
Finished
Improved
Instituted
Launched
Maximized
Partnered
Restructured
Revamped
Showcased
Succeeded
Surpassed
Transformed
Communication Verbs
Arranged
Briefed
Co-authored
Collaborated
Communicated
Consulted
Convinced
Corresponded
Described
Discussed
Documented
Explained
Formulated
Influenced
Lobbied
Negotiated
Observed
Participated
Persuaded
Presented
Promoted
Proposed
Reported
Resolved
Responded
Reviewed
Suggested
Summarized
Synthesized
Leadership Verbs
Administered
Assigned
Authorized
Chaired
Consolidated
Controlled
Coordinated
Decided
Delegated
Developed
Directed
Executed
Founded
Generated
Handled
Headed
Improved
Increased
Initiated
Introduced
Led
Managed
Motivated
Overhauled
Oversaw
Pioneered
Planned
Produced
Recommended
Spearheaded
Streamlined
Supervised
Organizational Verbs
Arranged
Assembled
Categorized
Coded
Compiled
Distributed
Filed
Incorporated
Inspected
Logged
Orchestrated
Ordered
Organized
Processed
Registered
Reorganized
Scheduled
Submitted
Updated
Verified
Research Verbs
Analyzed
Assessed
Collected
Compared
Conducted
Detected
Devised
Diagnosed
Discovered
Evaluated
Examined
Experimented
Explored
Extracted
Formulated
Gathered
Identified
Interpreted
Investigated
Measured
Monitored
Researched
Summarized
Tested
Technical Verbs
Calculated
Constructed
Converted
Debugged
Designed
Engineered
Fabricated
Installed
Operated
Programmed
Repaired
Solved
Upgraded
Utilized*
*Utilized is not quite the same thing as used. Used is a general term (e.g., to make use of something), whereas utilized implies a practical use for something (e.g., utilized a tool or a computer program to produce a result).
