ACTION VERBS TO

ENHANCE YOUR RESUME

When promoting yourself, you must express your skills, assets, experience, and accomplishments in an
active voice which is in an easy, straightforward and economical manner. Begin each descriptive section
with an action verb. The following is a sample list; create your own that reflects your discipline and
skills.
/ MANAGEMENT / COMMUNICATION / RESEARCH / TECHNICAL / TEACHING / FINANCIAL
SKILLS SKILLS SKILLS SKILLS SKILLS SKILLS
• administered • addressed • clarified • assembled • adapted • administered
• analyzed • arbitrated • collected • built • advised • allocated
• assigned • arranged • critiqued • calculated • clarified • analyzed
• attained • authored • diagnosed • computed • coached • appraised
• chaired • corresponded • evaluated • designed • communicated • audited
• contracted • developed • examined • devised • coordinated • balanced
• consolidated • directed • extracted • engineered • developed • budgeted
• coordinated • drafted • identified • fabricated • enabled • calculated
• delegated • edited • inspected • maintained • encouraged • computed
• developed • enlisted • interpreted • operated • evaluated • developed
• directed • formulated • interviewed • overhauled • explained • forecasted
• evaluated • influenced • investigated • programmed • facilitated • managed
• executed • interpreted • organized • remodeled • guided • marketed
• improved • lectured • reviewed • repaired • informed • planned
• increased • mediated • summarized • solved • initiated • projected
• organized • moderated • surveyed • trained • instructed • researched
• planned • motivated • systematized • upgraded • persuaded
• prioritized • negotiated • set goals
• produced • persuaded • stimulated
• recommended • promoted
• reviewed • publicized
• scheduled
SHOULD I USE PRESENT OR PAST TENSE VERBS?
• recruited
• strengthened • spoke • If you’re writing about the current or ongoing responsibilities in your present
• supervised • translated job, use the present tense (e.g. write, plan, etc.).
• wrote • If you’re writing about a past responsibilities or a previous job, use past tense
(e.g. wrote, planned, etc.).
 / HELPING / LEADERSHIP / CREATIVE / INFORMATION / ADMINISTRATIVE / PROBLEM-
SKILLS SKILLS SKILLS SKILLS SKILLS SOLVING SKILLS
• assisted • appointed • acted • assembled • adapted • administered
• assessed • approved • conceptualized • built • advised • allocated
• clarified • arranged • created • calculated • clarified • analyzed
• coached • assessed • designed • computed • coached • appraised
• counseled • assigned • developed • designed • communicated • audited
• demonstrated • authorized • directed • devised • coordinated • balanced
• diagnosed • carried out • established • engineered • developed • budgeted
• educated • chaired • fashioned • fabricated • enabled • calculated
• expedited • coached • founded • maintained • encouraged • computed
• facilitated • completed • illustrated • operated • evaluated • developed
• familiarized • consulted • instituted • overhauled • explained • forecasted
• guided • delegated • integrated • programmed • facilitated • managed
• referred • demonstrated • introduced • remodeled • guided • marketed
• rehabilitated • determined • invented • repaired • informed • planned
• represented • devised • originated • solved • initiated • projected
• serviced • directed • performed • trained • instructed • researched
• supported • enlisted • planned • upgraded • persuaded
• tended • facilitated • published • set goals
• tutored • headed • revitalized • stimulated
• initiated • shaped

DON’T FORGET TEAMWORK SKILLS!

• accomplished • explained
• assisted • followed
• collaborated • helped
• coordinated • shared
• corroborated • volunteered
• dispatched
• encouraged

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(304) 929-1234 | techcareerservices@mail.wvu.edu | careerservices.wvutech.edu
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