315+ Resume Action Words and Power Words That Impress Hiring Managers and Recruiters

Do you want your resume to make a good impression and impress your hiring manager?

When writing a resume, it is important to use powerful action words and power words that capture attention. By using the right words in your resume, you can create a great resume that will help you stand out from the crowd.

If you are not able to get a professional resume writer to help you craft a professional resume for your job application, using these powerful action words will make your resume more memorable.

Good Resume Action Words and Power Words to Use In A Professional Resume

When looking for a job, it is important to understand the job requirements and the expectations of the industry. A well-written resume that is relevant to the career or jobs you are applying for can be the best opportunity for you to show a potential employer what you can offer.

With the right words in your resume, you can demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job, your ability to think on your feet, and your commitment to excellence, and make you the perfect candidate for the job.

Here are the best action and power words to use in your resume.

Resume Words for Achiever and Achieved

When it comes to describing an achievement, it is important to use powerful and action-packed words. This will help paint a picture for the reader of just how successful you are.

With the right action words being used,

A normal candidate will become exceptional, a good candidate will become highly demanded, and a great candidate will become irresistible to the hiring manager.

• Accelerated
• Accomplished
• Achieved
• Advanced
• Amplified
• Attained
• Boosted
• Completed
• Converted
• Created
• Delivered
• Demonstrated
• Earned
• Enacted
• Enhanced
• Exceeded
• Expanded
• Expedited
• Finished
• Generated
• Grew
• Improved
• Lifted
• Managed
• Maximized
• Outpaced
• Outperformed
• Overcame
• Produced
• Raised
• Reached
• Saved
• Showcased
• Stimulated
• Succeeded
• Surpassed
• Targeted
• Won

Resume Words for Assist or Helped

When writing a resume to tell someone how you have helped or assisted in something, knowing what words to use can help you stand out from the crowd. Using the right action and power words correctly is a great way to describe your experiences and make them sound more exciting.

For example, you could say “I spearheaded the project” or “I was instrumental in getting the job done.”

Using strong verbs will help your listener picture what you did and how you helped. Be sure to use specific details to illustrate your point.

• Abet
• Advance
• Aid
• Boost
• Coach
• Collaborate
• Cooperate
• Counsel
• Dispatch
• Endorse
• Expedite
• Facilitate
• Help
• Maintain
• Promote
• Reinforce
• Support

Resume Words for Communication Skills

When describing your ability to communicate, it is important to use action and power words in your resume that help to paint a clear picture of your communication skills for the reader. Using strong verbs helps demonstrate that you are a strong communicator.

For example, you might say “I am an excellent communicator who can succinctly and effectively relay information.” or “I have the ability to quickly build rapport with others and get my point across.

Not only does this help to tell the reader that you are a good communicator, but it also tells the reader the benefits you can provide through your communication skills.

• Advocated
• Authored
• Clarified
• Composed
• Consulted
• Conveyed
• Convinced
• Corresponded
• Defined
• Explained
• Fielded
• Illustrated
• Influenced
• Informed
• Mediated
• Moderated
• Negotiated
• Persuaded
• Promoted
• Publicized

Resume Words for Written Communication

Written communication in the form of emails, instant messages (IM) or news releases, or even reports is a powerful tool that can be used to build relationships, influence others, and achieve goals.

When you are writing, using strong action and power words can create a more dynamic and exciting text that will engage your reader and help you to communicate your ideas effectively.

When written communication is clear and precise, action words can be an effective way to help convey the magnitude of your ideas, making them more impactful and getting your point across.

• Authored
• Briefed
• Campaigned
• Coauthored
• Composed
• Conveyed
• Convinced
• Corresponded
• Counseled
• Critiqued
• Defined
• Documented
• Drafted
• Edited
• Illustrated
• Lobbied
• Outlined
• Persuaded
• Presented
• Promoted
• Publicized
• Reviewed
• Wrote

Resume Words for Experience or Participate

When describing that you have participated or have experience in something, using action and power words can help paint a more vivid picture for the reader.

For example, instead of saying “I went to a party,” you could say “I danced all night at the hottest party in town.” Or instead of “I have experience on a project,” you could say “I put together a team of engineers in developing a new product.”

• Arranged
• Compiled
• Composed
• Constructed
• Created
• Developed
• Engaged In
• Fashioned
• Forged
• Formulated
• Made
• Made Progress On
• Operated
• Organized
• Perfected
• Prepared
• Pursued
• Put Together
• Set-Up
• Undertook

Resume Words for Improved

When you’ve completed a task or made a change for the better, how do you describe that to someone?

Saying “I improved it” is vague and doesn’t really explain what you did. You need to be able to communicate in a clear, concise way just how much better things are now. Saying that you “increased sales by 25%” sounds much more impressive than saying you “increased sales by a little.”

Action words are verbs that show the level of intensity of your accomplishment and with a level of specificity convey a sense of progress and forward momentum.

• Boosted
• Centralized
• Clarified
• Converted
• Customized
• Digitized
• Grew
• Integrated
• Lifted
• Merged
• Modernized
• Modified
• Overhauled
• Raised
• Redesigned
• Refined
• Refocused
• Rehabilitated
• Remodeled
• Reorganized
• Replaced
• Restructured
• Revamped
• Revitalized
• Saved
• Simplified
• Slashed
• Standardized
• Streamlined
• Strengthened
• Transformed
• Updated
• Upgraded

Resume Words for Leadership and Management

Leadership and management are two of the most important aspects of any organization. Good leaders motivate their team and provide a clear vision, while good managers make sure everything runs smoothly day-to-day.

Strong action and power words are often used to describe an individual’s ability to lead and manage.

For example, words like “direct” and “influence” convey the idea of taking action, while words like “powerful” and “strong” suggest that the leader or manager has a lot of control.

The words you use help to paint a more vivid picture of what it means to lead or manage. A good leader is someone who inspires others and provides a clear vision. They motivate their team and help them work together towards a common goal.

• Aligned
• Authorized
• Chaired
• Cultivated
• Delegated
• Directed
• Enabled
• Executed
• Facilitated
• Fostered
• Guided
• Headed
• Hired
• Hosted
• Inspired
• Mentored
• Mobilized
• Motivated
• Operated
• Orchestrated
• Oversaw
• Recruited
• Shaped
• Spear­headed
• Supervised
• Taught
• Trained
• Unified
• United

Resume Words for Monitor or Regulated

Monitoring and regulating something is important to ensure that something stays within certain boundaries, it can help with quality control, and it can help to ensure safety.

Using the right action words can also help to create a sense of urgency and importance of the task and action that you do.

• Adjudicated
• Authorized
• Blocked
• Dispatched
• Enforced
• Ensured
• Inspected
• Itemized
• Monitored
• Screened
• Scrutinized
• Verified

Resume Words for Problem Solving and Creativity

Problem-solving is a mental process of trying to find a way to solve a problem. Creativity is the ability to come up with new ideas or solutions.

Creative problem solving is a process that uses imagination and innovation to resolve issues or find new opportunities. It involves looking at things from different angles and considering a variety of possible solutions.

• Altered
• Built
• Corrected
• Crafted
• Designed
• Determined
• Devised
• Drafted
• Enhanced
• Established
• Fashioned
• Fixed
• Initiated
• Invented
• Overhauled
• Patched
• Piloted
• Pioneered
• Rebuilt
• Resolved

Resume Words for Project Management

When it comes to describing project management skills, the use of action and power words can help to paint a clear picture for potential employers.

Words such as led, organized, and directed can help to show that the individual has experience in managing projects and the role that the individual take when managing the project.

Right words used in the resume for project management can help to display qualities of leadership, planning, or even the ability to work under stressful conditions.

• Administered
• Arranged
• Chaired
• Coordinated
• Delegated
• Directed
• Executed
• Headed
• Managed
• Operated
• Orchestrated
• Organized
• Oversaw
• Planned
• Produced
• Programmed
• Spearheaded

Resume Words for Relationship Building

Relationship Building at work is the process of developing, managing, and maintaining positive relationships with people such as your vendors, and clients.

The ability to build professional relationships with others can lead to better collaboration and more productive work environments which can be beneficial in any work environment especially if you are in sales or requires to communicate with vendors or clients.

• Acquired
• Closed
• Forged
• Navigated
• Negotiated
• Partnered
• Pitched
• Secured
• Signed
• Sourced
• Upsold

Resume Words for Research or Analysis

Do you have the ability to research and analyze information?

Being able to research and analyze information is the ability to find accurate and reliable sources of information.

Often individuals with these skills can translate a complex problem or data into information that can be presented in a simple way that can be understood by the masses.

• Analyzed
• Assembled
• Assessed
• Audited
• Calculated
• Checked
• Compiled
• Discovered
• Evaluated
• Examined
• Explored
• Forecasted
• Identified
• Inspected
• Interpreted
• Interviewed
• Investigated
• Mapped
• Measured
• Modeled
• Probed
• Projected
• Proved
• Qualified
• Quantified
• Reported
• Studied
• Surveyed
• Tested
• Tracked
• Visualized

Resume Words for “Responsible for…” or “Task with…”

When describing what you are “responsible for…” or “task with…”, using action words can help you to sound more powerful and in control, while also making your writing more interesting which paints a picture of what you are doing and make it more engaging for the reader.

For example, saying “I am in charge of creating a new marketing campaign” sounds much more impressive than “I am responsible for creating a new marketing campaign.”

• Accomplished
• Achieved
• Acquired
• Acted As
• Completed
• Created
• Executed
• Finished
• Forged
• Made
• Navigated
• Negotiated
• Operated
• Partnered
• Performed
• Prepared
• Produced
• Secured
• Succeeded In
• Undertook

Resume Words for Collaborate and Teamwork

Do you have what it takes to be a team player?

When you display teamwork, you are working collaboratively with others, it is the combined action of a group of individuals, working together to achieve a common goal.

With the right action words, you can describe what you’ve done to achieve that common goal in a more persuasive and convincing manner that helps the hiring manager visualize how you will fit into their team if you are being hired.

• Acknowledged
• Assimilated
• Blended
• Co-authored
• Coalesced
• Collaborated
• Contributed
• Cooperated
• Coproduced
• Diversified
• Embraced
• Encouraged
• Energized
• Forged
• Gathered
• Harmonized
• Ignited
• Joined
• Married
• Melded
• Merged
• Participated
• Partnered
• Teamed (up)
• United
• Volunteered
• Wove

Good Resume Words for Finance and Data

Are you looking for a job in finance or data? If so, you’ll want to use specific words that can make your qualifications stand out. Show the reader what you’re capable of achieving and why you are the right person for the job.

Words like “managed,” “analyzed,” and “monitored” convey a level of responsibility, authority, and the depth of knowledge you have in that particular topic.

• Administered
• Adjusted
• Allocated
• Analyzed
• Appraised
• Assessed
• Audited
• Balanced
• Calculated
• Computed
• Conserved
• Corrected
• Determined
• Estimated
• Forecasted
• Managed
• Measured
• Planned
• Projected
• Reconciled
• Reduced
• Retrieved

Resume Words For Organized

When it comes to being organized, you need strong powerful action words to help you show what you have done in the past.

Saying that you “set up a sports event for 100,000 participants” sounds much more impressive than simply saying that you “organize events.”

The words you use should help you describe your goals and achievements that showcase your ability to be organized.

• Approved
• Arranged
• Cataloged
• Categorized
• Charted
• Classified
• Coded
• Collected
• Compiled
• Corresponded
• Distributed
• Executed
• Filed
• Generated
• Implemented
• Incorporated
• Inspected
• Logged
• Maintained
• Monitored
• Obtained
• Operated
• Ordered
• Organized
• Prepared
• Processed
• Provided
• Purchased
• Recorded
• Registered
• Reserved
• Responded
• Reviewed
• Routed
• Scheduled
• Screened
• Set-Up
• Submitted
• Supplied
• Standardized
• Systematized
• Updated
• Validated
• Verified

What Are Action Words In A Resume

Action words in a resume are also called power words, they are words that are used in a resume that helps an individual describe their ability, professional skills , experience, and achievements at work in an impactful way. These are often words that capture the attention of the reader in a positive and memorable way.

Resume action words are verbs or adjectives used to describe an achievement or a task that an individual is able to achieve or had achieved.

A strong action word enables the writer to effectively summarize what they want to say and helps to clarify any doubts the hiring manager has in mind.

Having strong action and power words in a resume can often be beneficial for a job applicant, leading to more interviews and job offers.