University Career Services Northwestern University

Action Verbs
Start each bulleted statement with an action verb to give your resume power and direction. In choosing your
action verbs, select verbs that highlight your qualifications and that align with the position you are seeking.

Devised Reconciled Reorganized Informed

Analytical Entertained Leadership Replaced Interpreted
Reduced
Established Researched Represented Interviewed
Analyzed Formulated Accomplished Reviewed Marketed
Retrieved
Clarified Illustrated Advanced Revitalized Mediated
Collected Initiated Administered Secured Moderated
Interpersonal
Compared Integrated Appointed Selected Outlined
Conducted Introduced Approved Solidified Participated
Adapted
Determined Modeled Assigned Stimulated Persuaded
Advised
Evaluated Modified Attained Streamlined Presented
Advocated
Examined Originated Authorized Strengthened Promoted
Answered
Experimented Performed Chaired Supervised Proposed
Assessed
Explored Photographed Completed Publicized
Coached
Extracted Revised Coordinated Published
Collaborated Communication
Formulated Revitalized Decided Reconciled
Contributed
Gathered Shaped Delegated Addressed Recruited
Cooperated
Identified Developed Advertised Referred
Counseled
Interpreted Financial Directed Arbitrated Reinforced
Demonstrated
Interviewed Diversified Articulated Reported
Enabled
Investigated Administered Enforced Authored Responded
Encouraged
Measured Adjusted Enhanced Clarified Solicited
Ensured
Organized Allocated Established Collaborated Specified
Expedited
Proved Analyzed Founded Communicated Spoke
Facilitated
Researched Appraised Generated Composed Summarized
Focused
Reviewed Assessed Headed Consulted Synthesized
Furthered
Screened Audited Improved Contacted Wrote
Guided
Searched Balanced Incorporated Conveyed
Initiated
Specified Budgeted Increased Convinced Organizational
Interacted
Solved Calculated Initiated Corresponded
Intervened
Summarized Computed Inspected Debated Approved
Listened
Surveyed Conserved Instituted Defined Arranged
Mediated
Systematized Controlled Integrated Demonstrated Catalogued
Moderated
Tested Decreased Introduced Described Categorized
Motivated
Validated Determined Led Developed Charted
Negotiated
Developed Prevented Managed Directed Classified
Creative
Estimated Provided Motivated Discussed Collected
Forecast Referred Organized Drafted Compiled
Combined Managed Oversaw Edited Coordinated
Rehabilitated
Composed Marketed Planned Explained Corrected
Represented
Conceptualized Measured Presided Expressed Corresponded
Resolved
Condensed Planned Prioritized Familiarized Distributed
Simplified
Created Prepared Produced Formulated Expedited
Supplied
Customized Programmed Recommended Illustrated Executed
Supported
Designed Projected Recruited Incorporated Filed
Volunteered
Developed Purchased

University Career Services Facebook: facebook.com/northwesternUCS

Main Location: 620 Lincoln Street Twitter: twitter.com/northwesternUCS
Career Lab: Main Library, Core Reserves, 2nd Flr LinkedIn: linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=1926036
Phone: 847-491-3700 Blog: northwesternuniversitycareerservices.wordpress.com
www.northwestern.edu/careers
Organizational Restructured Exceeded Instructed Converted
Reviewed Expanded Teaching Motivated Designed
(Cont.)
Scheduled Generated Simulated Developed
Generated Screened Increased Adapted Stimulated Diagnosed
Implemented Set up Improved Advised Taught Drafted
Incorporated Submitted Launched Appraised Tested Engineered
Logged Supplied Led Coached Trained Inspected
Maintained Standardized Marketed Communicated Tutored Installed
Monitored Systematized Promoted Conducted Maintained
Obtained Updated Resolved Coordinated Technical Monitored
Operated Validated Restored Critiqued Operated
Ordered Verified Saved Developed Adapted Overhauled
Organized Shaped Educated Applied Programmed
Planned Marketing Succeeded Enabled Assembled Regulated
Prepared Surpassed Encouraged Automated Remodeled
Processed Achieved Transformed Evaluated Built Repaired
Provided Attained Won Facilitated Calculated Restored
Recorded Completed Focused Computed Specialized
Registered Conceived Guided Conserved Standardized
Reserved Delivered Individualized Constructed Upgraded
Responded Earned Informed Controlled Utilized

Resume Thesaurus

Rather than using the same action verbs repeatedly on your resume, use the list below to find alternatives.

Accomplish Completed Enhanced Implemented Managed Studied

Complete Concluded Deepened Completed Conducted Examined
Finish Finished Heightened Fulfilled Directed Inspected
Intensified Performed Surveyed
Achieved Composed Oversaw
Executed Comprised Established Increased Overlook Surpassed
Reached Created Constituted Expanded Supervised Exceeded
Realized Formed Created Heightened Surveyed Excelled
Instituted Raised
Adapted Consulted Planned Taught
Accommodated Advised Estimated Initiated Designed Instructed
Adjusted Conferred Appraised Commenced Devised Trained
Approximated Introduced Organized
Advised Coordinated Assessed Launched Updated
Conferred Accommodated Presented Refreshed
Consulted Arranged Evaluated Integrated Addressed Renewed
Appraised Coordinated Directed
Assessed Created Assessed Incorporated Offered Used
Appraised Composed Classified Unified Applied
Evaluated Generated Provided Employed
Produced Expanded Lead (led) Supplied Utilized
Audited Developed Conducted Transferred
Analyzed Designed Elaborated Directed Won
Examined Arranged Increased Guided Researched Accomplished
Inspected Created Investigated Achieved
Planned Fostered Maintained Probed Attained
Calculated Cultivated Provided
Computed Developed Encouraged Supported Revised Worked
Estimated Created Promoted Sustained Redrafted Handled
Figured Expanded Restyled Operated
Planned Rewrote Performed