Action Words to Use in Resumes

There are four main reasons to use action words in your resume.

1. They make sentences easier to understand, so you avoid confusion.
2. They make sentences more concise, so you're not wasting the hiring manager's time.
3. They make your writing more impactful--portraying you as the ideal candidate for the position.
4. They make your writing more persuasive, thus increasing your odds of being asked to come in for an interview

Action words are the verbs used to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments. Each bullet point in a resume typically starts with an action word, which is why it's important to vary your language and choose words that best describe what you did. Instead of resorting to endless repetitions of "achieved" and "led", try varying your language with some of the following suggestions.

While this list of action words should give you some inspiration for creating a more effective resume, remember that context is key. The words in this list are not all interchangeable synonyms. For example, the words "presided" or "chaired" are appropriate for describing a position leading a professional committee. If you were a referring to supervising a team of junior employees, you might use "directed" or "mentored" to more accurately describe what you did.

Once you've created a rough draft of your resume, ask a friend to help you proofread the document to make sure the words you've selected are appropriate for your particular needs.

And now you have selected your action words take a look at Examples of Resume Objectives to find out if an objective statement is right for your resume.