Resume Action Words to Stand Out to Get Noticed by Recruiters (20 Samples)

Athika Rahma

SEO Specialist Virtual Assistant at SGBVA

April 18, 2025
Remote Work Tips

Want to make your resume stand out? It all starts with the right words.

Your potential clients skim through resumes at lightning speed. And weak, passive language gets ignored.

That’s why resume action words are your best friend. They add power, clarity, and impact to your experience.

But simply adding action words isn’t enough. You need to use them strategically.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what action words are, why they matter, and how to use them effectively in your resume. Plus, you’ll get 20 powerful resume action words that will make your resume pop.

What Are Resume Action Words and Why Are They Important?

Action words, also known as power verbs, are strong, descriptive action verbs for resume that highlight your achievements, responsibilities, and contributions. Instead of using weak, passive phrases like “responsible for” or “helped with”, action words make your resume more dynamic and impactful.

Why action words matter:

They show impact – Strong verbs demonstrate real contributions and results.
They make your resume scannable – Recruiters often skim, and powerful resume action words catch their attention.
They replace weak, passive language – Action words make your experience sound confident and professional.
They help pass ATS scans – Many applicant tracking systems (ATS) look for specific verbs in resumes.

Here’s a quick example:

Weak: Responsible for managing a team of five employees.
Strong: Led and mentored a high-performing team of five employees, increasing productivity by 30%.

Notice how the second version sounds more engaging and results-driven? That’s the power of resume action words.

Now, let’s dive into 20 action words that will take your resume to the next level!

20 Powerful Action Words to Supercharge Your Resume

To make it easier for you to apply them, we’ve grouped these resume action words into key categories based on the type of work or results they emphasize.

Leadership & Management

1. Spearheaded

Shows leadership. Perfect for describing major initiatives you led.

Example: Spearheaded a social media campaign that increased engagement by 150%.

2. Directed

Highlights management and oversight skills.

Example: Directed a team of 10 designers to deliver projects ahead of schedule.

3. Orchestrated

For when you successfully coordinated a big effort.

Example: Orchestrated a cross-departmental project that cut costs by 18%.

4. Championed

Perfect for advocacy and internal initiatives.

Example: Championed a diversity initiative, increasing team representation by 40%.

Process Improvement & Efficiency

These resume action words are perfect for roles that involve streamlining operations, enhancing systems, or reducing waste.

5. Optimized

Great for process improvements and efficiency gains.

Example: Optimized customer onboarding process, reducing churn by 30%.

6. Streamlined

Ideal for cutting waste and improving workflows.

Example: Streamlined internal reporting, saving 10 hours per week.

7. Restructured

Ideal for process improvements and organizational changes.

Example: Restructured customer support workflows, cutting response time by 50%.

Execution & Implementation

If your strength is making ideas happen and executing plans, these resume action words can show that you get things done.

8. Implemented

Shows you took action and made things happen.

Example: Implemented a new CRM system, improving response time by 40%.

9. Executed

Shows you got things done.

Example: Executed a successful influencer marketing campaign with a 5X ROI.

10. Engineered

Ideal for tech and engineering roles.

Example: Engineered a new data pipeline that improved analytics efficiency.

Growth & Impact

These resume action words highlight measurable achievements, whether it’s in revenue, reach, or performance metrics.

11. Generated

Perfect when talking about revenue, leads, or engagement.

Example: Generated $200K in additional revenue through targeted email marketing.

12. Boosted

Perfect for highlighting growth metrics.

Example: Boosted email open rates by 45% through A/B testing.

13. Achieved

Demonstrates results and accomplishments.

Example: Achieved a 99% customer satisfaction score over 12 months.

14. Surpassed

Great for exceeding goals.

Example: Surpassed quarterly sales targets by 30% consistently.

Creativity & Innovation

Use these resume action words when you want to emphasize your ability to bring new ideas and creative solutions to the table.

15. Launched

Perfect for new projects, products, or initiatives.

Example: Launched a customer loyalty program that boosted repeat sales by 20%.

16. Developed

Useful for both technical and creative roles.

Example: Developed a data-driven content strategy, increasing traffic by 80%.

17. Designed

Perfect for creative fields.

Example: Designed a new UI that improved user experience and reduced bounce rate.

18. Revamped

Great for updates and improvements.

Example: Revamped website SEO strategy, leading to a 120% traffic increase.

Communication & Negotiation

If your role involves people skills, collaboration, or stakeholder management, these resume action words help convey your influence.

19. Negotiated

Great for roles involving partnerships, deals, or contracts.

Example: Negotiated vendor contracts, reducing costs by 25%.

20. Facilitated

For when you enabled collaboration and results.

Example: Facilitated workshops that trained 200+ employees in new software.

How to Include Action Words in Your Resume (the Right Way)

Now that you have the resume action words, the next step is to use them wisely. Just dropping a few action verbs into your resume isn’t enough—you need to pair them with the right context and results.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Pair them with numbers

Potential clients love seeing measurable results. Quantifying your achievements gives your resume action words more credibility and helps employers see the real impact of your work.

Example: Boosted sales by 40% through an optimized email marketing strategy.

Not every bullet point needs a percentage or dollar sign, but the more you can include numbers to support your claims, the better.

2. Match them to job descriptions

Before submitting your resume, take a close look at the job posting. Pay attention to the language the client uses—especially the verbs—and incorporate similar resume words for skills in your application. This not only helps you pass ATS filters but also shows the client that your experience aligns with their expectations.

Example: If the job post says “collaborates with cross-functional teams,” you could use words like coordinated, facilitated, or collaborated.

3. Avoid repetition

Using the same resume action words multiple times can make your resume feel flat. Diversify your verbs to highlight different strengths and keep the reader engaged.

Tip: Scan your resume and highlight repeated verbs. Replace some of them with synonyms from the categories above that still reflect your contributions.

4. Use past tense for past jobs

This may seem obvious, but it’s a detail many overlook. For previous positions, stick to the past tense to keep your resume grammatically consistent. Only use present tense for your current role.

Example: “Developed marketing strategy” (past job) vs. “Developing marketing strategy” (current job).

5. Prioritize relevant words

Not all resume action words fit every job or industry. A creative role might benefit more from words like designed or conceptualized, while an operations role might need streamlined or executed. Tailor your word choice to the role you’re applying for.

Ask yourself: “Which verbs best reflect my responsibilities and results in this role?” Then prioritize those on your resume.

Final Thoughts

Action words transform a generic resume into a compelling, results-driven document. By using powerful verbs strategically, you highlight your experience in a way that stands out to clients.

Use these resume action words, pair them with measurable results, and tailor them to each job application. With a stronger, more dynamic resume, you’ll be one step closer to landing your dream job!

If you’re looking to craft the perfect resume using action words and break into the world of VA and remote work, but need guidance, the SGB VA Course is here to help. This program goes beyond just resume writing—it equips you with the skills and strategies to build a successful remote career and land your first client.

Want to learn more? Join our free webinar and take the first step toward your remote career. Click the link below to get started!

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