Why Action Words Matter
The first word of every bullet point sets the tone. "Responsible for" is passive and weak. "Spearheaded" is active and powerful. Strong action verbs show initiative, impact, and leadership — exactly what employers want to see.
Words to NEVER Use
- ❌ Responsible for — passive, tells duties not achievements
- ❌ Helped — vague, diminishes your contribution
- ❌ Worked on — generic, says nothing specific
- ❌ Assisted with — minimizes your role
- ❌ Was involved in — the weakest possible framing
Leadership & Management
Directed, Led, Managed, Oversaw, Supervised, Coordinated, Spearheaded, Chaired, Headed, Mentored, Guided, Mobilized, Orchestrated, Pioneered, Championed, Cultivated, Empowered, Delegated, Inspired, Shaped
Achievement & Results
Achieved, Exceeded, Surpassed, Attained, Delivered, Accomplished, Earned, Outperformed, Maximized, Secured, Won, Generated, Produced, Yielded, Captured, Gained
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Created, Built, Designed, Developed, Established, Founded, Launched, Introduced, Originated, Conceived, Engineered, Constructed, Formulated, Invented, Architected, Prototyped, Innovated, Transformed
Improvement & Optimization
Improved, Enhanced, Optimized, Streamlined, Accelerated, Amplified, Boosted, Elevated, Modernized, Refined, Revamped, Restructured, Simplified, Strengthened, Upgraded, Reduced, Decreased, Minimized, Eliminated, Cut
Analysis & Problem-Solving
Analyzed, Assessed, Audited, Diagnosed, Evaluated, Examined, Identified, Investigated, Mapped, Measured, Quantified, Researched, Resolved, Solved, Tested, Validated, Forecasted, Modeled
Communication & Collaboration
Presented, Communicated, Negotiated, Persuaded, Advocated, Collaborated, Facilitated, Mediated, Partnered, Briefed, Conveyed, Translated, Articulated, Counseled, Influenced, Liaised
Financial Impact
Budgeted, Forecasted, Allocated, Conserved, Decreased costs, Generated revenue, Increased profit, Invested, Projected, Reduced overhead, Saved, Funded, Monetized, Capitalized
Technical
Automated, Coded, Configured, Debugged, Deployed, Engineered, Implemented, Integrated, Migrated, Programmed, Scripted, Tested, Architected, Refactored, Scaled, Optimized
How to Use Action Words Effectively
- Start every bullet point with an action verb — no exceptions
- Vary your verbs — don't start 5 bullets with "Managed"
- Match the level of the role — "Led" and "Directed" for senior roles, "Contributed" and "Supported" for junior
- Follow with impact — "Spearheaded" is great, but "Spearheaded a CRM migration that reduced response time by 40%" is a home run
Before and After Examples
❌ "Was responsible for the company's social media accounts"
✅ "Managed 5 social media channels, growing combined following from 12K to 45K in 8 months"
❌ "Helped the team improve customer service"
✅ "Redesigned customer escalation process, reducing average resolution time from 48 hours to 6 hours"
❌ "Worked on the annual budget"
✅ "Prepared and managed $3.2M annual department budget, identifying $180K in cost savings"