Stop using weak, passive language. Discover impactful action verbs, ATS-friendly keywords, and industry-specific terms to make your resume stand out.
Hiring managers see these cliché words thousands of times. Swap them for high-impact alternatives.
Responsible for
Chaired
Shows ownership and leadership rather than just passive duty.
Helped
Facilitated
Describes the specific action of making a process easier or possible.
Hard Worker
Exceeded Goals
"Hard worker" is subjective. Quantifying your output proves your work ethic.
Choose verbs that highlight your specific professional strengths.
See the dramatic difference a few power words and quantifiable metrics can make.
"Was responsible for making the sales team better."
"Mentored 5 junior sales reps, boosting overall team quota attainment by 22% in Q3."
"Helped with a project to upgrade the database."
"Spearheaded database migration project, reducing query load times by 400ms."
Applicant Tracking Systems scan for these specific keywords. Don't forget to include them.
Every bullet point on your resume should follow this proven structure.
Example
Directed a cross-functional team of 10 developers to launch the new mobile app, generating 50,000 downloads in month one.
Explore our extensive dictionary using different filters and categories.
Take this 50-question quiz to test your vocabulary knowledge.
1. Which of the following is the best use of a crisis verb with a metric?
2. Which verb conveys the highest level of strategic control for a massive inclusion initiative?
3. Which of the following is the best use of an action verb with a metric?
4. If you trained junior developers, which adjective best describes your leadership style?
5. If you had to create a new filing system at your campus job, which verb is the most professional?
6. Which verb is best for showing that you successfully merged multiple inefficient tools into one?
7. Which verb best describes successfully navigating a project through a major risk or issue?
8. Which verb is best for showing that you successfully ran an in-store event?
9. Which sentence uses a passive voice, which should be avoided?
10. When describing a class presentation, which verb is best?
11. Which of the following is the best use of an action verb with a metric?
12. Which of the following words should NEVER be used to describe mentoring on a professional resume?
13. Why should customer service representatives avoid the word 'Answered' on their resumes?
14. If you successfully reached an agreement on price with a client, which verb is the most professional?
15. If you had to prove external validation of your work, which verb is the most professional?
16. If you significantly reduced the time it takes to close the monthly books, which adjective is highly effective?
17. If you actively advocated for a mentee's promotion, which verb is the most professional choice?
18. Why is 'Handled' considered a weak verb on an entry-level resume?
19. What is the problem with using 'Assisted' on a process improvement resume?
20. If you make design decisions based on A/B testing and analytics, which adjective best describes you?
21. Why is 'Handled' considered a weak verb on a PM resume?
22. What is a 'weak verb' in resume writing?
23. Which verb best describes successfully navigating a remote project through a major digital risk or issue?
24. Which sentence is the best resume bullet point for a Cloud Engineer?
25. When writing about integrating a new hire to prevent early turnover, which verb is best?
26. Which of the following is the strongest adjective to replace 'Hard worker' on a resume?
27. If you completely corrected a historical billing error, which verb is highly effective?
28. Why should professionals avoid the word 'Worked' on a cross-functional resume?
29. If you had to reduce tension between two arguing departments, which verb is the most professional?
30. What is the main benefit of using student-specific action verbs like 'Researched' or 'Coordinated'?
31. What is a 'weak verb' in resume writing?
32. Which verb best describes successfully navigating a corporation through a major risk or PR issue?
33. Why is 'Checked' considered a weak verb on a research resume?
34. If you managed a sales territory's revenue, which verb is the most professional to use?
35. Which of the following words should NEVER be used on a professional resume?
36. What is the main benefit of using engineering-specific action verbs like 'Validated' or 'Overhauled'?
37. What is a 'weak verb' in resume writing?
38. If you gathered data from 2,500 users via a questionnaire, which verb is the most professional to use?
39. Which of the following is the strongest opening line for a LinkedIn summary?
40. Which verb is best for showing that you taught a team a completely new technology?
41. When describing the process of finding out why users leave a website without buying, which keyword is best?
42. If you built a machine learning model, which verb is the most professional to use?
43. What is the problem with using 'Good listener' on a resume?
44. When describing email marketing campaigns, which keyword is best?
45. When writing about sharing customer feedback with executives, which verb is best?
46. If you updated an old, failing lab protocol to make it reliable, which verb is highly effective?
47. Which sentence is the best resume bullet point for a Software Engineer?
48. Which of the following is a responsible AI keyword?
49. When describing a corporate turnaround, which verb is best?
50. When writing about analyzing data to make a choice, which verb is best?
Resume words, often called action verbs or power words, are strong vocabulary choices used in a resume or CV to describe your skills, experiences, and accomplishments. Instead of saying 'did' or 'made', you use words like 'orchestrated', 'developed', or 'spearheaded' to make a stronger impact on recruiters.
Using action verbs makes your resume more dynamic and engaging. They clearly communicate your contributions and leadership abilities, helping you stand out to hiring managers. Strong verbs also paint a clearer picture of how you added value to your previous companies.
Some of the best resume power words include 'achieved', 'improved', 'managed', 'created', 'resolved', 'optimized', and 'initiated'. The best words are those that accurately describe your specific actions while showing positive results.
You should avoid overused, cliché buzzwords like 'go-getter', 'think outside the box', 'synergy', or 'results-driven'. Also, avoid weak passive verbs like 'was responsible for' or 'helped with', as they dilute the impact of your achievements.
Most companies use ATS software to scan resumes before a human ever reads them. These systems look for specific keywords related to the job description. By using industry-standard resume words and exact phrases from the job posting, you increase your chances of passing the ATS and reaching the interview stage.
