What are action verbs ….and why should I use them in my résumé?
Action verbs are words that express an action. The first word of each experience bullet point on your résumé should typically be a strong action verb. Strong action verbs can:
Highlight your relevant skills, experience and accomplishments
Clarify the nature of your capabilities and contributions
Convey confidence
Make you stand out as a unique candidate
Integrating them into your résumé will paint a more vivid picture of your skills and accomplishments.
Tips for choosing strong action verbs:
Take time to reflect on what you did or accomplished
Choose precise action verbs that showcase your skills or achievements, and tailor them to the job requirements whenever possible
Integrate industry or role-specific action verbs where possible to showcase your industry knowledge (e.g., consider incorporating some action verbs contained in the job ad)
Ensure the verb you choose accurately reflects your skills and experiences; avoid exaggerating Use past tense for previous roles and past or present tense for current roles
Action verbs by category - Listing
Feel free to refer to the action verb list below as a starting point as you prepare your bullet points.
They’re divided into categories of action verbs associated with broad skill areas to support you in selecting the most precise match for each experience you want to convey. However, most roles require you to use various skills, so feel free to draw from any of the categories!
References
Columbia University (n.d.) 200+ Action Verbs to Spice Up Your Resume. Columbia University. https://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/200-action-verbs-spice-your-resume
Doan, D (2024, July 23) Maximize Your Impact: 205 Action Verbs to Use on Your Resume. HubSpot. https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/action-verbs-for-resume
Fennell, A. (n.d.) 57 strong adverbs to add to your resume in 2024. StandOutCV. https://standout-cv.com/usa/resume-adverbs
Georgetown University (n.d.) Actions Verbs. Georgetown University. https://careercenter.georgetown.edu/major-career-guides/resumes-cover-letters/action-verbs/
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (n.d.) Resume action verbs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://capd.mit.edu/resources/resume-action-verbs/
McGill University (n.d.) Action Verbs. McGill University. https://www.mcgill.ca/caps/files/caps/guide_actionverbs_category.pdf
No author (2023, May 2) How to Use Resume Action Verbs the Right Way in 2023? Hiration. https://www.hiration.com/blog/action-verbs/
No author (n.d.) Most Effective Action Verbs to Use on Your Resume. Resume Worded. https://resumeworded.com/action-verbs
No author (2023, December 18) 240+ Resume Action Verbs with Examples. Resumeway. https://www.resumeway.com/blog/resume-action-verbs/
Protsenko, K. (n.d.) Types of Adverbs in English. Promova Grammar. https://promova.com/english-grammar/different-types-of-adverbs-in-english#adverbs_of_degree
The Muse editors (2024, February 29) 185+ Action Verbs to Make Your Resume Stand Out in 2024. The Muse. https://www.themuse.com/advice/185-powerful-verbs-that-will-make-your-resume-awesome
University of Iowa (n.d.) Power Verbs. University of Iowa. https://careers.uiowa.edu/sites/careers.uiowa.edu/files/2022-01/powerverbs%20%281%29.pdf
Wellesley Career Education (n.d.) Action Verbs for Resumes. Wellesley Career Education. https://www.wellesley.edu/careereducation/sites/careereducation/files/Action_Verbs.pdf
York University (n.d.) Action verbs. York University. https://careers.yorku.ca/files/2017/05/Action-Verbs.pdf?x80908