Action verbs for resume and cover letter

Resume and cover letter action words are unique and impactful verbs that must be included in your job application to stand out from the competition. Many resume bullet lists begin with the same phrases, to the stage where they lose their effectiveness. You can capture the hiring manager's attention and paint a clear image of why you are the ideal fit by utilizing a convincing action verb. Adding power words to your resume can assist you to catch the employer's attention. It can improve your odds of securing an interview and possibly landing a new job. If you're searching for a new job, you might want to take a peek at some solid words to include in your resume whenever you apply.

Benefits of using resume action verbs

Employing resume action verbs strengthens your resume by substituting widely known, over-used terms and expressions that hiring managers view all the time with interactive and persuasive words that will draw the employer's attention. You can maintain specifics of your qualifications and job experiences brief and strong by beginning your bullet lists with action verbs.

What are action verbs for a resume and cover letter

Action verbs for a resume or cover letter are significant or powerful verbs that enable you to convey your attributes, qualities, experiences, and accomplishments. These words might be adjectives describing your work ethic, verbs expressing what you have achieved, or nouns displaying you as an individual. Including the proper set of verbs on your resume can facilitate you to stand out from the crowd during the application procedure.

How to pick action words for your resume

Many verbs can be used on a resume, it is critical to select words that precisely represent your characteristics and experience. Here are some pointers to consider when determining which words to use on your resume;

Tailor your resume to every job

It's a good idea to customize your resume for every company. It will assist you in ensuring that it pertains to the particular role. A recruiter is more inclined to shortlist a resume that appears to be an excellent match for the position on offer. It implies you could advance to the next stage of the hiring process.

Review the job description

The job description usually includes data about the type of worker the company is seeking. For instance, if you view the job description for a customer service agent and recognize that they are looking for energetic and optimistic people, you can try to provide synonyms for such verbs on your resume. You might refer to yourself as self-directed, dedicated, constructive, or friendly. Rather than precisely imitating the words in the job advertisement, try finding some appropriate words that you believe complement the tone of the description.

Acknowledge your abilities

After reviewing the job description, identify the skills that would qualify you for the position. For instance, if they request individuals with managerial skills, you may utilize some of the verbs that define a leadership role. Verbs such as advocate, motivate, facilitate, pioneer, and cooperate may be included. It is critical to only specify competencies that you possess.

Conduct an additional study on their website

Discover the organization's website as you plan to seek employment. You can request whether they have any details about their business's culture or any details for job candidates. For instance, if you notice that they take pride in being a viable corporation and you have an eco-friendly outlook, you might emphasize this on your resume by adding action words such as environmentally aware to define yourself.

List of action verbs for resume and cover letter

The best action verbs to utilize on your resume are determined by the type of career you want. Below are some powerful words to use when identifying yourself and your responsibilities in various roles;

Achieved
Accomplished
Adapted
Addressed
Analyzed
Authorized
Assessed
Assisted
Appraised
Advised
Allocated
Accelerated
Acquired
Aided
Assembled
Budgeted
Built
Brainstormed
Balanced
Boosted
Compiled
combined
Challenged
Committed
Communicated
Coordinated
Calculated
Contributed
Commissioned
Confirmed
Customized
Created
Decided
Developed
Disclosed
Documented
Discovered
Designed
Determined
Demonstrated
Deferred
Distributed
Directed
Devoted
Drafted
Doubled
Diversified
Designated
Dedicated
Discussed
Exercised
Expected
Earned
Engaged
Entered
Engineered
Employed
Edited
Evaluated
Entertained
Eliminated
Exchanged
Estimated
Exempted
Endorsed
Expedited
Experienced
Enforced
Explained
Facilitated
Focused
Financed
Fueled
Formed
Fortified
Functioned
Formulated
Guided
Grouped
Granted
Generated
Guaranteed
Gathered
Hired
Handled
Helped
Improved
Identified
Installed
Inspired
Interviewed
Issued
Invested
Illustrated
Implemented
Incurred
Innovated
Inspected
Interpreted
Inaugurated
Informed
Instilled
Incorporated
Joined
Located
Launched
Litigated
Led
Mastered
Managed
Merchandised
Modified
Minimized
Modeled
Measured
Moderated
Motivated
Multiplied
Marketed
Maximized
Negotiated
Noticed
Navigated
Networked
Operated
Owned
Observed
Oversaw
Organized
Obtained
Oriented
Participated
Printed
Proposed
Pursued
Persuaded
Perceived
Preserved
Processed
Produced
Promoted
Planned
Performed
Pioneered
Passed
Prioritized
Proficiency
Provided
Presented
Procured
Purchased
Placed
Permitted
Quoted
Qualified
Questioned
Ranked
Resolved
Received
Rewarded
Revised
Revitalized
Revamped
Responded
Restored
Reinforced
Reinstated
Rehabilitated
Remedied
Redesigned
Recruited
Recovered
Recorded
Reduced
Replaced
Retained
Retrieved
Raised
Reached
Reviewed
Researched
Saved
Secured
Stabilized
Scheduled
Screened
Settled
Selected
Showed
Specialized
Standardized
Steered
Stimulated
Strategized
Surveyed
Supported
Supplied
Supervised
Studied
Trained
Traveled
Transformed
Tested
Transferred
Tailored
Targeted
Utilized
Uncovered
United
Updated
Unified
Upgraded
Verified
Valued
Validated
Visualized
Witnessed
Worked
Weighed
Won
Welcomed

What are some compelling action verbs for a resume

There are numerous resume action verbs that you must employ to make a unique resume. Resume action verbs will strengthen your job application by substituting familiar, over-used terms and phrases that hiring managers notice all the time with solid, interactive, and persuasive action words that will draw the employer's attention.

How to use action verbs in a resume

When mentioning your duties in former roles or the expertise you have acquired, add action verbs at the beginning of your bullet lists. You can maintain summaries of your qualifications and work experiences brief and impactful by beginning your bullet lists with action words.

What are action verb lists

Action verb records are organized compilations that you may utilize to replace regularly used terms or words in your job application to render your statements more effective and precise.

What are resume power words

Power words are action words that are added to a resume to guide hiring managers in recognizing your skills and competencies more clearly. They typically help in developing a distinguished resume.