Resume Action Verbs
Strong bullets start with a verb that shows what you did — then back it with a number. Swap tired phrases like "responsible for" for the verbs below, grouped by the kind of work.
e.g. "Reduced page load time 40% by refactoring the image pipeline."
Action verbs by category
Led, Directed, Managed, Oversaw, Coordinated, Supervised, Mentored, Spearheaded
Built, Created, Designed, Developed, Launched, Engineered, Established, Implemented
Improved, Increased, Boosted, Accelerated, Optimized, Streamlined, Reduced, Cut
Analyzed, Researched, Evaluated, Assessed, Diagnosed, Forecasted, Modeled
Delivered, Achieved, Exceeded, Generated, Drove, Won, Closed, Shipped
Presented, Negotiated, Persuaded, Advised, Trained, Authored, Pitched
FAQ
Why use action verbs on a resume?
They start each bullet with what you did and signal ownership and impact. Compare 'Responsible for sales' with 'Closed $1.2M in new business' — the verb plus a number does the work.
What words should I avoid?
Avoid 'Responsible for', 'Duties included', 'Helped with', and vague buzzwords like 'hardworking', 'team player', 'go-getter'. Show it with a verb + result instead of claiming it.
Should every bullet start with a verb?
Yes — lead each bullet with a past-tense action verb (present tense for your current role), then the what and the measurable result.