action verbs for problem solving

400 Powerful Action Verbs and Synonyms to Boost Your Resume

Your resume is essentially a marketing tool that sells your skills, experience, and achievements to potential recruiters and employers. Therefore, it needs to be crafted in a way that catches their attention and makes a lasting impression. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by using powerful action verbs.

Action verbs not only make your resume more engaging and dynamic, but they also help recruiters understand your achievements and skills better. By using strong action verbs, you can highlight your accomplishments and show what you are capable of achieving in your next role.

In this article, we will explore 400 powerful action verbs and synonyms that you can use to boost your resume’s impact. These verbs are categorized according to the skills and achievements they represent, which will make it easier for you to identify the ones that best suit your profile.

So, buckle up and get ready to take your resume to the next level by incorporating these powerful action verbs.

Benefits of Using Action Verbs

Using action verbs in your resume can greatly benefit your job candidacy in several ways:

Boosting your candidacy  By using strong and powerful action verbs, you can make your resume stand out among the stack of applications. Action verbs give recruiters the impression that you are an active and dynamic candidate, which can help boost your chances of being selected for an interview.

Highlighting your skills and accomplishments  Action verbs allow you to clearly and effectively communicate your skills and achievements to potential employers. By starting your bullet points with powerful action verbs, you can draw attention to your notable accomplishments, such as exceeding sales targets, leading successful projects, or improving operational efficiencies.

Enhancing the readability of your resume  Using action verbs can also make your resume more engaging to read, helping to keep recruiters engaged and interested in what you have to offer. By using words that convey action and impact, you can create a more compelling and persuasive resume that stands out from the rest.

Incorporating powerful action verbs throughout your resume is a smart strategy for boosting your candidacy and highlighting your skills and accomplishments. By doing so, you can enhance the overall readability of your resume and position yourself as a strong and dynamic candidate.

Action Verbs for Communication Skills

Your communication skills are vital to your professional success. It’s not just what you say, but how you say it that truly matters. To make your resume stand out, incorporate strong and powerful action verbs to describe your communication skills. These verbs can help to show off your personality and qualities as they relate to your profession.

Here are some action verbs you can use to describe communication skills on your resume:

Negotiating

• Compromised
• Diplomatically
• Established
• Facilitated
• Collaborated
• Coordinated
• Adjudicated
• Interpreted
• Corresponded
• Articulated

Incorporating these strong action verbs into your resume will make you stand out from the crowd. Don’t be afraid to take time to think about the best way to describe your communication skills, as it can make all the difference in securing your next job. Remember, your resume is your first impression to potential employers, so make it count!

Action Verbs for Leadership Skills

As a professional seeking to enhance your resume, it’s important to understand the impact of well-chosen action verbs, particularly for leadership skills. Here are six powerful verbs to use when describing your leadership experience:

1. Directing

Directing refers to the act of giving clear and specific instructions to team members. It’s about providing guidance, structure, and clarity to ensure the successful completion of tasks or projects. Some synonyms for directing include:

• Orchestrating

2. Delegating

Delegating is the ability to assign tasks and responsibilities to others while maintaining overall control of a project or task. It involves identifying individual strengths and assigning tasks accordingly to ensure efficiency and productivity. Some synonyms for delegating include:

• Transmitting

3. Empowering

Empowering your team involves giving them the tools, resources, and authority they need to effectively complete tasks and make decisions. It’s about building trust and confidence in your team’s abilities while fostering a sense of ownership and accountability. Synonyms for empowering include:

• Giving authority
• Investing power
• Encouraging
• Authorizing
• Strengthening

Guiding is the process of providing advice, support, and direction to team members to help them achieve their goals. This requires a deep understanding of your team’s strengths and weaknesses and the ability to provide constructive feedback. Some synonyms for guiding include:

• Counselling

5. Inspiring

Inspiring team members involves creating a shared vision and motivating them to work towards a common goal. This requires effective communication, leading by example, and fostering an environment that encourages creativity and innovation. Synonyms for inspiring include:

• Stimulating

6. Motivating

Motivating your team involves creating a positive work environment and giving team members the incentives they need to perform at their best. This might include providing recognition, offering professional development opportunities, or setting achievable goals. Some synonyms for motivating include:

• Incentivizing

When it comes to listing leadership skills on your resume, using powerful action verbs can make a big difference. These six verbs – directing, delegating, empowering, guiding, inspiring, and motivating – are great starting points that will help showcase your leadership abilities and achievements to potential employers.

Action Verbs for Problem Solving Skills

When it comes to landing your dream job, highlighting your problem-solving skills is crucial. Your potential employers want to know that you can handle any obstacles that come their way and make decisions that will benefit the company. This is why using the right action verbs on your resume is essential.

Here are six powerful action verbs you can use to demonstrate your problem-solving skills:

• Analyzing Analyzing involves breaking down a problem into its component parts to better understand how it works. It is essential for any problem-solving situation, and using this verb on your resume suggests that you don’t shy away from complicated issues.

Example: Analyzed data to identify trends and patterns, which led to a reduction in product defects by 20%.

• Diagnosing Diagnosing aims to identify the root cause of a problem. When you’re able to diagnose a problem effectively, you can find the appropriate solution to fix it.

Example: Diagnosed software issues and worked with the development team to implement fixes, resulting in a 50% reduction in bug reports.

• Troubleshooting This term refers to the process of finding and fixing problems. Troubleshooting is especially relevant for IT professionals, but it can apply to any industry where identifying and solving problems is a critical component.

Example: Troubleshot complex network issues, leading to a 25% increase in data transfer speeds.

• Researching Researching is the process of finding solutions to problems by gathering information and analyzing data.

Example: Researched the competition’s marketing strategies to create a more effective advertising campaign, leading to a 40% increase in sales.

• Developing Developing involves finding new and innovative solutions to problems.

Example: Developed a new customer support platform, which reduced response times by 50%.

• Implementing Implementing refers to putting solutions into action. This is a crucial step in the problem-solving process as it ensures that the solution you have come up with is effective and sustainable.

Example: Implemented a new training program for managers, leading to a 70% reduction in employee turnover.

Using these six action verbs on your resume will demonstrate your problem-solving prowess and show potential employers that you are someone they can rely on to find and implement effective solutions.

Action Verbs for Technical Skills

Technical skills are essential in many industries, whether in tech or non-tech fields. Using the right action verbs can help highlight your technical skills and expertise to potential employers. Here are some powerful action verbs to use when describing your technical skills on your resume or cover letter:

1. Programming

• Architected
• Implemented
• Troubleshot

2. Developing

• Orchestrated

3. Designing

• Conceptualized
• Illustrated

5. Innovating

• Brainstormed

Remember to match the action verbs to the skills you’re discussing – make sure the words you’re using accurately represent your experience and accomplishments. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different verbs to create a dynamic and impactful resume. Using powerful action words can make all the difference in setting you apart from other candidates and catching the eye of a hiring manager.

Action Verbs for Sales Skills

Using powerful and relevant action verbs can showcase your skills and experience in a highly effective manner, increasing your chances of landing your next sales job.

Here are six essential sales skills and the accompanying action verbs that you can use to boost your resume:

1. Converting

Converting is the art of turning a prospect into a paying customer. Here are some action verbs that you can use to describe this process on your resume:

• Closed the deal with

Closing is the final stage of the sales process, where you seal the deal and get the customer to commit to making a purchase. Here are some action verbs that you can use to show your expertise in closing deals:

• Locked down

3. Upselling

Upselling refers to convincing customers to purchase additional or higher-priced products than they originally intended. Here are some action verbs that you can use to show your upselling skills:

• Recommended

4. Prospecting

Prospecting is the process of finding potential customers and qualifying them for the sales process. Here are some action verbs that you can use to showcase your prospecting skills:

5. Consulting

Consulting is the process of providing expert advice to customers to help them make informed decisions. Here are some action verbs that you can use to describe your consulting skills:

6. Networking

Networking involves reaching out to potential customers or industry professionals to build relationships that can lead to sales opportunities. Here are some action verbs that you can use to showcase your networking skills:

Incorporating strong action verbs into your resume can make a significant difference in your job search. By using these power words, you can communicate your sales skills effectively and stand out from the competition.

Action Verbs for Creative Skills

If you’re applying for a job in a creative field, your resume needs to reflect your design and invention skills. To show your potential employer that you have the necessary talent and abilities, it’s important to use powerful action verbs related to conceptualizing, brainstorming, inventing, designing, composing, and drafting. Here are some of the best options to help you stand out:

Conceptualizing

• Visualizing

Conceptualizing is all about coming up with new ideas or concepts for a project. Use strong verbs, like “ideating” and “visualizing,” to demonstrate your ability to develop unique and innovative ideas.

Brainstorming

• Collaborating
• Idea-generating
• Problem-solving
• Streamlining
• Strategizing

Brainstorming is a group activity that requires teamwork and communication. Use action words like “collaborating” and “strategizing” to show that you’re a team player who can work effectively with others to generate new ideas.

• Formulating
• Discovering

Inventing is all about creating something new. Use powerful verbs like “formulating” and “pioneering” to communicate your ability to develop new solutions and products.

• Constructing

Designing refers to creating or improving the aesthetic value and functionality of something. Use action words like “crafting” and “shaping” to describe your ability to create visually appealing designs.

Composing refers to creating written content, whether it’s for advertising, websites, or other mediums. Use verbs like “authoring” and “crafting” to describe your ability to write compelling content that grabs attention.

• Diagramming

Drafting refers to creating a rough outline or visual representation of a concept. Use action verbs like “outlining” and “mapping” to show your ability to plan and organize ideas effectively.

Incorporating powerful action verbs into your resume can help you stand out to potential employers. By using strong language to describe your various creative skills, you’ll show that you have the talent and expertise necessary to excel in your field.

Action Verbs for Organizational Skills

As a highly organized professional, your ability to manage complex projects and coordinate the efforts of multiple teams is invaluable to any organization. To showcase your organizational skills on your resume, it is essential to use powerful action verbs that highlight your abilities in planning, scheduling, managing, budgeting, coordinating, and supervising.

Here are some effective action verbs to use when describing your organizational skills:

• Analyze: Identify problems and opportunities, evaluate information, and develop effective plans.
• Forecast: Predict future trends, conduct research, and anticipate potential challenges.
• Design: Develop detailed project plans and strategies to achieve specific objectives.
• Develop: Create and implement effective plans, policies, and procedures.
• Chart: Map out timelines, action plans, and milestones to achieve project goals.
• Prioritize: Identify and rank tasks based on urgency, importance, and deadlines.
• Streamline: Optimize workflows, processes, and task sequences to maximize efficiency.
• Schedule: Create and manage project calendars, timelines, and deadlines.
• Allocate: Assign tasks, resources, and responsibilities to team members.
• Coordinate: Align schedules and resources across multiple teams and departments.
• Lead: Direct and motivate teams to achieve project goals and objectives.
• Delegate: Empower team members to take on tasks and responsibilities.
• Monitor: Track progress, evaluate performance, and adjust plans as needed.
• Improve: Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Collaborate: Work with cross-functional teams to achieve project goals.
• Estimate: Calculate the costs of various resources, including labor, supplies, and equipment.
• Forecast: Predict future expenses and revenue projections.
• Allocate: Assign funds to specific projects, programs, and activities.
• Monitor: Track spending, evaluate expenses, and adjust budgets as needed.
• Control: Ensure that spending stays within budget and is aligned with organizational goals.

Coordinating

• Align: Ensure that all activities, timelines, and resources are aligned with project goals.
• Facilitate: Help team members and stakeholders communicate and work together effectively.
• Liaise: Serve as a point of contact between different teams, departments, and stakeholders.
• Integrate: Combine different project components into a cohesive whole.
• Manage: Oversee the coordination of activities, timelines, and resources across multiple teams.

Supervising

• Coach: Provide guidance, feedback, and support to team members.
• Motivate: Inspire and encourage team members to achieve their goals.
• Evaluate: Assess team members’ performance, identify areas for improvement, and provide constructive feedback.
• Delegate: Assign specific tasks and responsibilities to team members.
• Monitor: Track progress, identify potential issues, and adjust plans as needed.

Incorporating these action verbs into your resume can help you showcase your organizational skills and stand out to potential employers.

Action Verbs for Research Skills

As a researcher or someone with strong research skills, you need to have a wide range of action verbs in your arsenal to illustrate your competencies and achievements. The following are six powerful action verbs that can help you effectively communicate your research skills on your resume:

Investigating

Investigating involves the process of gathering information, examining it, and determining its veracity or reliability. As a researcher, you need to have excellent investigative skills to find and analyze relevant data or information. Some examples of how to use this action verb in your resume include:

• Investigated the impact of new government policies on the pharmaceutical industry
• Conducted investigative research on the effectiveness of new marketing strategies
• Explored and investigated the factors that affect consumers’ purchasing decisions

Comparing involves analyzing two or more sets of data or information to identify similarities, differences, or patterns. As a researcher, you need to be able to compare and contrast different variables or concepts to make informed decisions or recommendations. Examples of how to use this action verb in your resume include:

• Compared and analyzed the stock performances of different industries
• Conducted a comparative analysis of customer preferences across different regions
• Evaluated and compared the effectiveness of different employee training programs

Collecting involves gathering and organizing data or information from different sources. As a researcher, you need to be able to collect relevant data or information to support your research objectives or questions. Some examples of how to use this action verb in your resume include:

• Collected and analyzed survey responses from a target demographic
• Compiled and organized data from various sources to analyze trends in the market
• Gathered and documented data on the impact of new environmental regulations

Citing involves referencing and crediting the sources of information used in your research. As a researcher, you need to be able to cite your sources accurately and avoid plagiarism. Some examples of how to use this action verb in your resume include:

• Cited and referenced academic papers and articles in a research report
• Compiled and maintained a database of references used in the research project
• Developed guidelines for citing sources in a research publication

Evaluating involves assessing the value, effectiveness or quality of something. As a researcher, you need to be able to evaluate the results of your research and make evidence-based recommendations. Some examples of how to use this action verb in your resume include:

• Evaluated the impact of employee engagement programs on organizational performance
• Assessed and evaluated the effectiveness of a new software implementation
• Conducted a thorough evaluation of the health benefits of a new diet plan

Synthesizing

Synthesizing involves combining or integrating different pieces of information or data to form a coherent whole. As a researcher, you need to be able to synthesize information from different sources and present them in a clear and concise manner.

Action Verbs for Analytical Skills

In today’s job market, companies are searching for employees who possess strong analytical skills to help solve complex problems and drive growth. As a job seeker, you want to showcase these skills in your resume and highlight your ability to analyze, measure, calculate, predict, model, and test.

1. Analyzing:  The ability to analyze data, information, and situations is a critical component of many professional roles. To demonstrate your analytical skills in your resume, consider using action verbs such as:

• Analyzed customer data to identify trends and inform marketing strategy
• Conducted in-depth analysis of financial reports to identify cost savings opportunities

2. Measuring:  Measuring skills involve collecting quantitative and qualitative data and using it to inform decision-making processes. Highlight your ability to measure in your resume by including language such as:

• Developed a system for measuring customer satisfaction and identified areas for improvement
• Conducted performance evaluations to measure employee productivity and identify opportunities for growth

3. Calculating:  Calculating skills involve using mathematical concepts and data to perform complex calculations and forecast outcomes. Highlight your ability to calculate in your resume with language such as:

• Developed financial models to calculate return on investment for new product lines
• Conducted cost-benefit analyses to determine the most effective solutions for reducing expenses

4. Predicting:  Predicting skills involve using data analysis and modeling techniques to forecast future outcomes and trends. Highlight your ability to predict in your resume with action verbs such as:

• Predicted customer needs and developed new product features to meet those needs
• Conducted market research to predict future trends and inform marketing strategy

5. Modeling:  Modeling skills involve creating mathematical or statistical models to help understand complex systems or processes. To showcase your modeling skills in your resume, consider using verbs such as:

• Developed a predictive model to forecast budget needs for upcoming fiscal year
• Created a simulation model to predict the impact of operational changes on customer satisfaction

6. Testing:  Testing skills involve the ability to develop and implement tests to validate hypotheses and measure outcomes. Highlight your testing skills in your resume by using action verbs such as:

• Conducted A/B testing on website design to identify the most effective layout
• Developed and executed product testing protocols to ensure quality standards were met.

To showcase your analytical skills on your resume, it’s important to use strong action verbs that clearly demonstrate your ability to analyze, measure, calculate, predict, model, and test. By doing so, you’ll increase your chances of standing out to prospective employers and landing your dream job.

Action Verbs for Service Skills

When it comes to showcasing your service skills on your resume, using strong and impactful action verbs can make all the difference. Here are some powerful verbs that you can use to highlight your abilities in serving, supporting, facilitating, advising, educating, and resolving:

• Participated
• Strengthened

Facilitating

• Communicated
• Demonstrated
• Enlightened
• Investigated

These powerful action verbs can help you to stand out from the crowd and demonstrate your service skills in a more impactful and memorable way. So don’t be afraid to use them on your resume and show potential employers the value that you can bring to their organization.

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How to List Problem-Solving Skills on a Resume [List Included]

Problem-solving skills are more in-demand than ever. 

Employers love candidates with problem-solving skills because, in 99% of cases, they guarantee you're also logical, creative, clear-headed, and a great decision-maker. 

But claiming you have organizational skills on your resume is not enough. 

To impress recruiters, you've got to prove that you possess them. 

This includes understanding which problem-solving skills you possess and adding them to your resume (the right way), among other things.

This is where this article comes in! We put together everything you need to know about problem-solving skills, including: 

• 8 Essential Problem-Solving Skills for Your Resume

How to Add Problem-Solving Skills to Your Resume

• Why Are Problem-Solving Skills Important
• 6 Problem-Solving Steps

Let's dive right in! 

8 Problem-Solving Skills for Your Resume

Research shows that problem-solving skills consist of several facets : 

• Identifying and analyzing a problem
• Taking effective actions
• Understanding the effect of the decisions
• Coming up with creative and novel solutions
• Transferring knowledge from one situation to another
• Thinking abstractly about problems

As such, there is no single problem-solving skill. Problem-solving includes a set of skills, all of which are equally important in helping your personal and professional life. 

Below, we’ll cover the eight most important problem-solving skills that you can also list on your resume to impress recruiters: 

#1. Research skills

To properly identify and understand a problem, you need excellent research skills. 

Research skills involve being able to gather information from the right sources, reviewing that information in detail to extract the data you need, analyzing the data according to the context, and being able to apply the data to your situation. 

#2. Analytical skills

Analytical skills are required throughout the entire process of solving a problem. 

In a nutshell, analytical skills refer to being able to analyze a situation in depth and from different perspectives . Specifically, you need analytical skills to achieve all of the following while solving a problem:

• Detect patterns
• Interpret data
• Analyze new information
• Reach conclusions based on several factors

#3. Creativity

Being creative means being able to think outside of the box and look at situations and problems inventively. 

For most people, creativity is mainly associated with creative industries such as arts and crafts, architecture, design, etc. 

In reality, however, creativity is an essential success factor for every job and the data is here to support that. According to this Adobe study , problem-solving (51%) and creativity (47%) have gained the most value in driving salary increases in the last five years. 

When it comes to the process of solving a problem, creativity can help you consider more perspectives, think abstractly about problems, and come up with novel solutions that others haven’t thought of before.

#4. Critical thinking skills

Being able to think critically means that you’re good at rationalizing, understanding the connections between ideas or situations, and logically analyzing any given situation. 

As such, strong critical thinking skills can help you see beyond what’s at face value, make more informed decisions, and anticipate the outcomes of said decisions. 

People who have critical thinking skills share traits such as open-mindedness , cognitive flexibility , skepticism , clarity , and precision . 

#5. Decision-making skills

Before coming up with a single action plan to solve a problem, you’ll need to first brainstorm several possible solutions. 

After that, you need good decision-making skills to choose the best possible solution. Without decision-making skills, you risk prolonging finding a proper solution or aggravating a problem even more. 

#6. Communication skills

With strong communication skills , you’re able to successfully explain the problem to others and propose your solutions. In turn, you can be sure that everyone’s on the same page and that you’re carrying out the action plan accordingly. 

Some communication skills required for problem-solving include: 

• Active listening
• Written and verbal communication
• Giving and receiving feedback

#7. Collaboration

Problem-solving is rarely a process you carry out alone. More often than not, you need to consult relevant stakeholders, give and receive feedback, and work with a team towards a common goal (i.e. solving the problem).

Well, collaboration entails exactly that - working well with others, cooperatively addressing problems, and putting a group’s goal ahead of personal goals. 

Some important collaboration skills that help with problem-solving include: 

• Conflict resolution
• Emotional intelligence 

#8. Attention to Detail 

Have you ever heard of the expression “the devil’s in the details?”

It means that something may seem simple on the surface, but in fact, the details make it complicated and are likely to cause problems.

Well, if you’re someone who shows great attention to detail, you’re not likely to let details keep you from solving a problem effectively. 

Not to mention, being able to spot and understand even the smallest details that make up a problem means you’ll be able to grasp the issue in its entire complexity and come up with even more inventive and workable solutions. 

Now that we covered the most important problem-solving skills, we’ll show you how to add them to your resume so that you can stand out from other candidates. 

Let us walk you through the process, step-by-step: 

#1. Mention Your Problem-Solving Skills on Your Resume Summary

The resume summary is a three or four-sentence paragraph positioned at the top of your resume that includes: 

• Your profession and years of experience 
• Your top skills (i.e. hard skills or soft skills)
• One or two noteworthy achievements 

The goal of the resume summary is to catch the hiring manager’s attention, show them you’re a relevant candidate and get them to go through the rest of your resume in detail. 

As such, it’s your first chance to highlight your problem-solving skills effectively. You can either do that by mentioning them among your top skills or by mentioning an achievement that proves you possess a given skill.

In the best-case scenario, you can even do both. 

Here is an example of how you can include problem-solving skills in your resume summary: 

• Behavioral psychologist with 7+ years of experience in the field. Great research, analytical, and communication skills. Over the last eight years, I’ve worked closely with more than 100 patients with different behavioral disorders, helping them improve their personal and professional lives through different treatment methods. 

#2. Add the RIGHT Problem-Solving Skills Under Your Soft Skills

Secondly, you should list your problem-solving skills under your resume’s soft skills section . 

The listing part is pretty easy - simply create a section titled Skills and write down your problem-solving skills.

There is, however, one caveat: 

You don’t want to overkill your skills section by listing every problem-solving skill we covered in this article.

Not only will the hiring manager have trouble believing you possess each and every skill, but there’s also a high chance you don’t even need all those skills to begin with. 

To make your skills section as relevant as possile, do the following: 

• Check the job description. The job description can show you exactly what skills you need for the job. If you’re applying for, say, a software engineering position, you’ll probably be required to have the following problem-solving skills: analytical skills, creativity, attention to detail, and cognitive flexibility. 
• Identify the skills you possess. Think about which skills you can back up with actual experience from your previous jobs. Only list problem-solving skills that you actually possess and that you can prove you possess on your resume. 
• Add those skills under your soft skills. Then, add the problem-solving skills that you have and that are required in the job under your resume’s “Soft Skills” section. 

#3. Prove Your Problem-Solving Skills In Your Work Experience Section

Finally, you should use the work experience section to prove that you’ve got the problem-solving skills you’ve mentioned throughout your resume. 

Anyone can just claim that they’ve got problem-solving skills on their resume - not everyone can back them up with experience.

Here’s what you can do to convey that you possess problem-solving skills and also make your work experience section as impactful as possible: 

• Tailor your work experience to the job. Only add past jobs that are relevant to the position you are applying for now. If you’re applying for, say, a software engineering position, the hiring manager will be interested in your previous jobs in the field, but probably not too interested in the time you worked as a server at a restaurant. 
• Focus on your achievements instead of your responsibilities. More often than not, hiring managers know exactly what your responsibilities consisted of in previous jobs. What they want to know is how you made a positive impact with your achievements. 
• Make your achievements quantifiable. Speaking of achievements, you want to make them as quantifiable as possible. After all “treated ten patients in the course of a year using positive reinforcement” sounds much better than “treated ten patients.”
• Use the Laszlo Bock formula . If you’re having trouble phrasing your achievements, the following formula will probably be of help: “Accomplished X as measured by Y doing X.” 
• Leverage action verbs and keywords. There are hundreds of words and verbs you can use instead of “did,” “accomplished,” etc. The more descriptive you are of your achievements, the more impressive they can sound.

And here’s an example of a project manager describing their problem-solving skills in their work experience section:

• Fixed company communication issues by implementing a new project management solution. 
• Improved team productivity by implementing time-tracking software and doing daily stand-up calls.
• Managed to meet all client deliverable deadlines in 2022.

Why Are Problem-Solving Skills Important?

Are you wondering what exactly is it that makes problem-solving skills so important? 

After all, there are hundreds of soft skills out there that you can master, improve, or learn how to add to your resume. So it’s normal to wonder “why should I focus on problem-solving?” 

Here is why problem-solving skills matter:

• They can improve your employability. Problem-solving skills are among the most important skills to employers across a range of occupations. In short, employers are always looking for proactive thinkers who can address professional challenges.
• They can help you grow in your career more easily. You’ll be more likely to get promoted if you can come up with creative solutions to the different problems that you’ll face throughout your career.
• They can become an essential part of your personal brand . Your current employer, coworkers, and future employers alike will see you as someone creative, reliable, and helpful.
• They are related to a range of other valuable skills. When you prove you’re a problem solver, you’re effectively saying you’re attentive to detail, logical, creative, analytical, curious, and other things employers are looking for in their employees.

10 Jobs That Require Problem-Solving Skills

As we’ve already mentioned, problem-solving skills come in handy for practically every job. 

Whether you’re a teacher who needs to solve a dispute between peers in your class or a customer representative who needs to help a client, knowing how to go about solving issues is definitely an asset. 

That said, some jobs are all about solving problems. In such cases, problem-solving skills are not just a nice addition to have on your resume - they’re crucial to getting hired. 

Here are the top 10 jobs requiring problem-solving skills in 2024: 

• Software engineer
• Air-traffic controller
• Police officer
• Social worker
• Psychologist
• UX designer

35 Action Verbs You Can Use to Highlight Your Problem-Solving Skills

The language you use to describe your problem-solving skills matters.  

Sure, you can use “ solved” to describe how you dealt with a problem throughout your entire resume and risk coming off as repetitive and unimaginative. 

Or , you can use any of the following action verbs and keywords and make your problem-solving skills pop out in the eyes of recruiters: 

• Calculate  
• Critically think 
• Draw conclusions
• Experiment 
• Listen/Listen actively 

The Problem-Solving Process in 6 Steps

Problem-solving is a methodical process. It consists of certain steps that you always need to take if you want to find a good solution. 

The more you understand and practice this process, the better you can get at solving problems. 

Below, we cover the six main steps of problem-solving in detail:

#1. Identify the problem 

The first step to solving a problem is identifying exactly what’s causing it. 

After all, if you’re not focusing on the real underlying issue, you might come up with solutions that don’t fit the problem itself. 

Say, for example, that you’re a teacher that’s facing poor class performance. Identifying whether the problem comes from the students’ not studying enough or from your own teaching methods can make a big difference in the solutions you come up with. 

It typically happens that the faster you find the root cause of the problem, the easier it is to find a proper solution. 

#2. Understand the problem

Once you identify the problem, you’ve got to understand it completely. Here are some questions you can ask to make sure you properly understand a problem: 

• What is the scale of the problem? 
• What are its short and long-term effects? 
• Have you faced something like this before?
• Can the problem be solved by dividing it into smaller parts?

The better you understand the problem in its complexity, the more likely you are to come up with effective solutions. 

#3. Research the systems that make up the problem 

In many cases, solving a problem will be a complex undertaking. See, complex problems are often the result of several different underlying systems that you need to understand to find a dynamic solution. 

Let’s take the teacher example from above. 

If a certain student is not doing too well and keeps getting poor grades, you might be tempted to go the easy route and simply chastise them and tell them to study more.

This, in a lot of cases, might simply not work because you’re not addressing the root cause of the problem.

The student might, for example, be burned out , unmotivated by the curriculum, or simply struggling with specific topics.

A problem-solving solution that’s more likely to work would be to talk to the student (or their parents), try to understand the reason for their poor grades, and address the root cause behind the problem itself.

#4. Visualize the problem 

This may not apply to all situations, but it can definitely come in handy for most. 

Drawing a diagram to visualize the situation or your solution to the problem can help you grasp its complexity better - especially if the problem is multi-faceted. Anything from PowerPoint to a piece of white paper can be a good tool to visualize your problem, highlight the problem area, and tackle it more effectively.

#5. Brainstorm solutions 

After you’ve done all the above, it’s time to start thinking about solutions. 

This is another step of the problem-solving process that’s based on collaboration and effective communication. In the brainstorming phase, you should sit with team members or relevant stakeholders and come up with as many creative ideas and solutions as possible. 

This is not where you come up with your most refined, well-thought-out ideas. Instead, it’s where you discuss freely and combine diverse knowledge and analysis of the problem to come up with diverse solutions. 

Brainstorming is an essential part of problem-solving that can help you break out of boring or predictable ideas and thinking patterns. 

#6. Choose the best answer(s)

This is where decision-making skills come in. With a list of different potential solutions, you can narrow down your options to finally choose the best one. 

To reach a solution more easily, take the following into consideration:

• Your company’s/organization’s objectives
• The budget and the timeframe at your disposal
• The success outcomes
• Potential risks linked to the solution 

Finally, discuss your solutions with relevant stakeholders and team members to gather all the possible feedback that can help you make the best possible decision. 

And remember - once you’ve chosen the best possible solution to a problem, your work is far from over. Being a problem solver also includes the following: 

• Develop and implement an action plan
• Monitor the progress of your plan 
• Make necessary adjustments during the process
• Evaluate the outcomes of your solution 

Problem-Solving Skills Resume Example

Want a resume that makes your problem-solving skills pop like the above example? 

Use one of our tried-and-tested resume templates . 

They’re free, modern, and created in collaboration with some of the best HR professionals from around the globe!

Key Takeaways 

And that's a wrap on problem-solving skills. By now, you should know everything there is to know on the topic. 

Before you go, here are the main points we covered in this article: 

• Problem-solving skills are a set of soft skills that help you solve problems effectively. They involve critical thinking, analytical skills, creativity, communication skills, and attention to detail. 
• Problem-solving skills can improve your employability, work performance, and personal brand. 
• Add your problem-solving skills to your resume summary, under the soft skills section, and in your work history section. 
• When you’re creating your work history section, make sure to tailor it to the job, focus on your achievements and make them quantifiable, and use action verbs and keywords from the job description. 
• To get better at solving problems, follow these steps: identify and understand the problem, research the systems that make up the problem, visualize the problem, brainstorm, and choose the best possible solution. 
• Once that’s done, create an action plan and make sure to monitor its progress as you’re implementing it. 

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240+ Resume Action Verbs with Examples [2024]

• December 18, 2023
• In Resumes & Cover Letters

Resume action verbs demonstrate your strengths and communicate your expertise in a powerful manner. The correct use of action verbs can transform your resume from bland to impactful. In fact, action verbs can put you way ahead in your job search and make you stand out. Most importantly, resume action verbs clearly communicate why you are the perfect fit for the position.

Table of contents

What are resume action verbs, why are action verbs important in a resume.

• How to Use Action Verbs to Make Your Resume Stand Out

1. Choose relevant action verbs

2. be specific and concise, 3. quantify your achievements, 4. use a variety of action verbs, 5. tailor your action verbs to different sections, 6. highlight accomplishments, 7. focus on industry-specific action verbs.

• How to Use Action Verbs for Resume Achievements

List of resume action verbs

Action verbs describe the responsibilities and acquired skills on your resume. Unlike passive, overused verbs, action verbs are dynamic and powerful. Using them in bullet points will communicate your expertise in a concise yet persuasive manner. Additionally, a hiring manager is more likely to read through your resume if you use strong, active verbs. Altogether, action verbs are a powerful way to describe your capabilities and set you apart from other applicants.

Action verbs make sentences more concise, easy to understand, persuasive, and have strong impact. They allow you to save space on position descriptions yet still highlight your experience. Because dynamic action verbs describe the exact actions you carried out, they create a more specific and detailed image of your responsibilities. Also, they are not as overused and cliché, which will make your resume stand out.

But, possibly the most crucial reason to use resume action verbs is that they improve scannability and readability. Using action verbs from the job listing will help you pass through the ATS (applicant tracking system) . Also, it will make it easier for the hiring manager to find essential skills and experience on your resume. Generally, powerful resume action verbs leave a more significant impact on the reader. They will make your resume memorable and unique and increase your chances of landing the job.

How to use action verbs to make your resume stand out

Using action verbs in your resume is an effective way to make your accomplishments and skills stand out to potential employers. Action verbs help convey a sense of action, achievement, and impact, rather than simply listing your job duties. Here are some tips on how to use action verbs effectively in your resume:

Select action verbs that are relevant to the specific job or industry you are applying for. Consider the skills and qualifications that the employer is seeking and use action verbs that align with those requirements.

Use action verbs that accurately describe your accomplishments and responsibilities. Be specific about what you achieved and how you contributed to the success of your previous roles. Avoid using generic or vague action verbs that do not provide clear information.

Whenever possible, quantify your achievements using numbers, percentages, or other measurable metrics. This helps demonstrate the impact of your actions and provides concrete evidence of your abilities.

Avoid repeating the same action verbs throughout your resume. Instead, use a variety of action verbs to showcase your versatility and range of skills.

Use different action verbs for different sections of your resume. For example, use action verbs related to leadership and management for your experience section, and action verbs related to problem-solving and communication for your skills section.

Rather than just listing your everyday tasks and responsibilities, use action verbs to illustrate specific successes. Using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method, you can concisely provide context for your achievements and highlight the impact you had in previous positions.

Here is an example of how to utilize the STAR method:

• Situation: Describe the situation at hand.
• Task: Describe the assigned task.
• Action: Describe the action you took to fulfill the task.
• Result: Describe the positive outcome of your actions.

For example, using the STAR method, you can describe an accomplishment as follows: “Implemented a new sales software focusing on repeat customers, increasing annual sales volume by 19%.”

Your industry most likely has its own language and jargon that is used every day. So, when writing your resume, use action verbs specific to your industry or job function. This proves your expertise and familiarity within the industry, enabling your resume to stand out among other applicants.

How to use action verbs for resume achievements

To effectively use action verbs for resume achievements, follow these tips:

• Identify your achievements. Make a list of your accomplishments in previous roles, such as projects completed, goals achieved, and challenges overcome.
• Choose relevant action verbs.  Select action verbs that accurately describe your achievements. For example, if you increased sales, you could use verbs like “boosted,” “maximized,” or “accelerated.”
• Tailor the verbs to the specific achievement.  Use action verbs that align with the specific accomplishment you want to highlight. For instance, if you led a successful team project, you could use verbs like “orchestrated,” “guided,” or “coordinated.”
• Quantify your achievements.  Whenever possible, include quantifiable results to showcase the impact of your accomplishments. For example, instead of saying “improved customer satisfaction,” you could say “increased customer satisfaction by 20%.”
• Incorporate the action verbs in your resume.  Integrate the action verbs into your bullet points under each relevant job experience. Start each bullet point with an action verb and provide a concise description of the achievement.

Here’s an example of how to use action verbs for resume achievements:

Previous Role: Sales Manager

• Achievement: Increased sales revenue by 35% within six months.
• Action Verb: “Boosted”

Examples of strong action verbs for resumes

These action verbs can help convey a sense of accomplishment and demonstrate your skills and abilities to potential employers.

Customer service action verbs for your resume

When crafting a customer service resume, it’s important to use action verbs that highlight your skills and accomplishments in this field. Here are some action verbs specifically tailored for customer service resumes:

• Assisted: Provided support and assistance to customers in resolving their inquiries or issues.
• Resolved: Successfully addressed and resolved customer complaints or concerns.
• Communicated: Effectively communicated with customers to understand their needs and provide appropriate solutions.
• Collaborated: Worked collaboratively with team members and other departments to ensure excellent customer service.
• Listened: Actively listened to customers to understand their requirements and provide personalized assistance.
• Advised: Offered guidance and advice to customers on product selection or problem-solving.
• Negotiated: Engaged in negotiations with customers to reach mutually beneficial resolutions.
• Empathized: Demonstrated empathy and understanding towards customers’ concerns or frustrations.
• Managed: Effectively managed customer accounts, ensuring accurate and timely information.
• Followed up: Followed up with customers to ensure their satisfaction and address any additional needs.
• Upsold: Identified opportunities to upsell or cross-sell products or services to customers.

Creative Skills

Communication Skills

Leadership Skills

Management Skills

Helping Skills

Research Skills

Financial Skills

Efficiency Skills

Technical Skills

Teaching Skills

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Action Verbs for Resume: 300+ Resume Action Words

Here are 300+ power verbs for your resume to take your skills to the next level. Easily find the best list of action words for your resume by category.

The average job opening will attract 250 applicants.

You are one of them.

So, does that mean you only have 1/250 of a chance of getting the job?

It doesn’t have to mean that, because you have tools at your disposal to make your resume more visible and impressive.

After reading this article, you will be equipped with the information you need to use the best action words to make your resume stand out above the others.

Let’s talk about these action words, a.k.a. resume verbs…

What Is an Action Verb?

When writing your resume, word choice matters… a lot!

You do not want to come across as boring, repetitive, or sounding just like the 249 other applicants.

Action verbs may also be referred to as power words, power verbs, or action words . When you choose the best verbs to use on your resume, they sell your skills better than generic words, enabling your job application to stand out.

Put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager.

Imagine that you have to sift through 250 documents to choose the best person for a job and all you see is…

• Made X…did Y…led Z.
• Team player…perfectionist…outside the box.
• Blah…blah…blah…

These statements don’t evoke an image of an individual. Everything looks like one big lump of neutral verbs and generic buzzwords.

Using strong action verbs on your resume can easily make you stand out.

Instead of “made,” you can say “created.”

Instead of “did,” you can say “completed.”

Keep reading for exact advice on how to implement this resume verbs list into your resume.

(Not sure how to start writing your resume? Read The 5 Best Resume Formats in 2024 [Tips & Samples] .)

300+ Action Verbs for Resumes

There are a lot of ways to say the same thing.

You can state, “I washed the dishes.”

You can also say, “I oversaw a process within which kitchen utensils and crockery were exposed to liquid and heat for a time to achieve a final outcome after which they had regained the status that they had prior to use.”

If you listed this on your resume, neither of the above options are very powerful.

You can try this instead: “Promoted cleanliness in the kitchen.”

To add an impactful accomplishment to your resume:

• Use a power verb to say what you did.
• Back it up with a number if relevant.
• Keep it simple, but keep it strong.

Instead of “was part of a team that did a good job,” you can say “contributing member of a team that drove sales by 15%.”

You can use the resume verb lists below as a guide when creating your unique resume.

You can also print off this 130 Resume Power Verbs cheat sheet to use while writing your resume or preparing for an interview. Click the image below to download your cheat sheet.

Now, let’s discuss the right verbs for resumes, depending on the unique achievements you have accomplished.

When you take time to choose the best verbs to use on resumes, your application will have a better chance of standing out from the rest.

You Achieved Something

You do not want a resume with countless rows of tasks beginning with the term “responsible for” or “achieved” when describing your achievements.

While it might be true, it sounds repetitive.

And repetitive content is boring.

Mix things up! State your responsibilities in a varied way using powerful resume verbs.

Describing similar things in varied ways also gives different angles on your responsibilities, making your skills look more versatile.

Instead of stating “responsible for” on your resume, try these resume action verbs:

Naturally, some of these examples will work better, depending on your particular accomplishments and how you hope to convey them in your resume.

You Analyzed

Perhaps analytical skills are very important for the job to which you are applying. Even so, you don’t want to just slap the word “analyzed” on your resume ad nauseam.

If you find you are repeating yourself, use different powerful words with a similar meaning.

Also, ensure that the information you include actually adds value to your resume.

You can definitely improve your resume by demonstrating your analytical abilities.

Here are a few examples of great resume verbs to use to help you stand out :

By using these action verbs on your resume, you can demonstrate your analytical ability without using the same word again and again.

A hiring manager analyzing your resume will greatly appreciate the diversity.

You Communicated

Are you a good communicator?

If so, how can you convey this in the best way?

Show it instead of say it, of course!

If you simply say, “I communicated …”, chances are that the hiring manager will assume you aren’t the greatest communicator.

Instead, show that you are a good communicator by outlining what you have achieved due to your communication skills.

Use a variety of powerful synonyms like the ones in this next resume verbs list to describe how great of a communicator you are:

Now, a lot of people make the mistake of assuming one word can simply replace another, similar one.

But even synonyms do not have the exact same meaning. Every word is unique, and has its own denotation and connotation.

So, while using the best action verbs for your resume, make sure that you choose the correct word.

For example, “moderating a discussion” has a distinct meaning as opposed to “negotiating a deal.”

When trying to convey that you are a good communicator, it is essential that you find the right word to describe each task on your resume.

You Created

Imagine if a creative person had to tell you that they are creative?

If a 7-foot tall man walked up to you, he wouldn’t have to say, “Hi, I am tall.”

In other words, if you have to say that you are creative, your resume may not be up to scratch yet.

Use resume action words like the following to demonstrate your creativity:

When you describe the creative projects you spearheaded, this will put you in a far better position than if you fail to supply evidence in your resume.

And when you combine those descriptions with some of the action verbs for a resume recommended above, you will be in a very good place.

You Dealt With Numbers

Do you have experience in finance and accounting?

You might be the person everyone goes to for advice when it comes to tax time, but you really don’t know how to express this in strong resume verbs.

Here’s a tip: Don’t include random obscure facts on your resume.

Be specific about your accomplishments and use power verbs like these:

See how the action verbs above open up the opportunity for you to include specific details?

While using these verbs in your job application is hugely important, remember to back them up with detailed statistics and numbers.

You Improved Something

Imagine if someone told you this: “I made things better at my last job.”

Would you be impressed?

Probably not, but imagine if they told you what they made better and how they did it.

Now we’re talking.

Use a strong action verb (like the ones on this next resume verbs list), back it up with evidence, and you show clearly that you added value with your contribution.

Here are some resume verbs to show how you improved something:

Wouldn’t it be awfully ironic if you stated that you improved things, but your verbs of choice needed improvement?

Avoid this by utilizing these terrific choices for strong resume verbs.

You Led or Managed a Team

There is a fine line between saying that you led a team and that you dictated a team.

Really…suggesting that you get a little drunk on power is not good.

At the same time, saying that you are a leader but having no proof is also not good.

It is important that you describe yourself as an effective but fair leader , willing to listen and adapt.

Show yourself as a responsible and successful leader by using apt power verbs for resumes like the ones below:

The most effective action verbs demonstrate authority without conveying that you are a bad leader.

You Organized

Organizing, arranging, logistics…

These are all extremely important skills to put in a job application.

Yes, you definitely want to show that you check the boxes in these skills. However, there are ways that you can make this boring, and ways to make it engaging.

Use action verbs and be specific about what you organized.

Did you organize a charity fundraiser that raised over $3,000?

Say that in a better way than, “Prepped an event for charity that raised money.”

Instead, try, “Arranged a fundraiser in support of [charity] and raised $3000.”

See power verbs below that help demonstrate your organizational abilities:

See the difference between saying that you “pulled something together” and that you “prepared” something?

They both have the same emphasis, but they are very different.

You Researched

When preparing your resume, you want to highlight exactly what makes you the perfect candidate for the job.

So what are you applying for?

You definitely do not want to come across as vague or unimaginative when highlighting the reasons that you are a perfect candidate.

If you completed a practical project, don’t say that you “did” it.

Try these good action-packed synonyms for research on your resume:

You can professionally demonstrate your academic and research aptitude by honestly and accurately representing yourself.

When it comes to word choice, using power verbs helps your resume stand out.

You Sold Something

Even more than with other vocations, you definitely want to back up whatever claims you make in the realm of sales with specific numbers.

Otherwise, you may as well be saying, “I sold stuff and may or may not have reached my targets.”

Instead, use clear and specific descriptions to tout your achievements. (This is not the place for humility!)

Instead of the above example, make a statement like, “Generated a 20% increase in sales for .”

Here is a full table of strong resume power words that work for sales:

It begs repeating that these effective verbs are great, but you need to back them up.

When you say “converted,” you want to complete the statement with details and numbers.

You Solved Problems

If you went to a comedy club and said that you were funny, the owner wouldn’t immediately throw you on stage and give you fifty bucks at the end of the night.

They’d want to know that you really are funny.

Same idea with problem solving.

You can say that you are a problem solver all you want, but if you don’t actually show how you are a problem solver, the hiring manager will have no reason to believe you.

It may just look like you threw a buzzword into a sentence to make it more appealing.

Evidence is key.

Check out these problem-solving action words:

By utilizing the above terms effectively, you can contextualize your problem-solving skills.

You Supported Others

Being able to lend a hand where needed is a skill employers value a lot.

If you are asked to assist with something, you don’t want to respond with, “Nah, I completed my duties assigned on Monday, so I’m going to stick with that.”

Accomplishing work behind the scenes is a large contributing factor to the overall success of a project.

Use your resume to show that you can willing and effectively help out where needed with these useful resume verbs:

The above verbs emphasize your resume skills at helping and providing supportive services.

You Taught Others

Another key element of effective action verbs on your resume is in demonstrating the positive effect you have had on others.

Results are extremely important. Highlight them and back them up.

If you have experience in teaching, remember to emphasize the positive effect you have on your students.

That, mixed with positive results, will only reflect well on you.

Here are 21 of the best verbs to use on resumes for teaching positions:

Students are not numbers. Be sure to highlight how you brought the best out of them.

Additionally, if you are going to discuss good results, emphasize areas that you “improved” situations for your students.

It is not simply an accomplishment of yours. Results matter for students!

You Worked on Something

Saying that you “worked on” something is overused.

A bodybuilder may say that he’s “working on” getting a tan.

Steve next door may say that he’s “working on” having more fruit in his diet.

Your friend Kayla may say that she’s “working on” doing more work from home.

You can see that the term is extremely broad…and extremely overused.

Do you think the hiring manager wants to read that your responsibilities consisted entirely of “working on” different projects?

Mix it up and make your resume an enticing read with the following action verbs:

See how there are so many ways to say that you’re working on something, without actually explicitly saying it?

Now you don’t need to say “working on” again.

You Worked With Others

One of the key elements behind success at work is teamwork.

You want to show that you can and have worked successfully with others not just once, but numerous times.

Chalking several of your accomplishments up to collaboration will demonstrate that you continue to be a good team player.

Put these powerful action words on your resume to show teamwork:

Emphasis needs to be kept away from you being the best (or only) player on the team.

Instead, concentrate on what was done, as demonstrated above.

In every category above, backing up your statements and accomplishments with evidence will make your claim stronger.

Words That Should Never Be Used on a Resume

Some words are even worse than using bland or overused words.

For instance, saying that you are a “perfectionist people person” will probably result in your resume getting placed to the side.

Or, imagine saying that you are an “epic pro analyzer.” The sheer redundancy will make the hiring manager shudder, and your resume might actually end up being shredded and used as bedding for hamsters.

In all seriousness, here is a list of phrases you should avoid on your resume at all costs:

These unsubstantiated and overused phrases don’t go over well.

When you talk yourself up with the above descriptions, you do not actually convey what you can do for the employer.

In fact, you do the opposite.

By using words like this, it strongly suggests that you are not taking your resume very seriously.

(Now that you have this advice, combine it with information from our article on the best Hard & Soft Skills for Your Resume .)

Why Are Action Verbs Important on a Resume?

So, you’re applying for a job…along with roughly 250 other applicants.

On your resume, you’ve conveyed your most relevant skills and accomplishments.

Additionally, you’ve worked to give an accurate account of your aptitude and accomplishments.

You carefully tailored your resume to show that you have the exact skills this employer is looking for.

You spent hours crafting the document to ensure that you check all the boxes.

But then it gets discarded almost immediately by the hiring manager.

What went wrong?

How Neutral Words Can Be a Turnoff

The last thing you want is for the hiring manager to place your resume to the side after reading it for just a matter of seconds because you blended in.

Using neutral resume words does exactly this.

Do you want to improve your chances of being seen as a serious candidate?

Stand out and be different!

There’s a reason the hiring manager doesn’t just go out onto the street and hire the first person they see.

They list the job so that the right people apply.

You might have the skills that they are looking for, but using overused or bland words will make your job application come across as generic.

How to Include Action Verbs on a Resume

First and foremost, you must consider that these resume verbs are used to describe what you have accomplished, rather than describe you as an individual.

The hiring manager is going to be significantly more interested in your contributions and your ability to effectively contribute to a team.

Wondering how to include power verbs on your resume?

It is really quite basic.

Whether in your professional summary, your responsibilities, or when outlining achievements at work – anywhere where you can put a verb, you can put an action verb.

Transform “talked” to “presented.”

Change “thought of” to “spearheaded.”

Revise “made” into “developed.”

See how simple including these resume action words can be?

Your resume naturally requires you to include verbs, so simply consider what verbs will actually get the job done.

A word of caution: It is not simply a matter of clicking on the “synonym” function on a Word Doc. Definitions may be similar, but they are never exactly the same.

Additionally, the words around it sometimes need to change too.

Instead of “Drew up the specifications …” you would not say, “Illustrated up the specifications …”

It would just be “Illustrated the specifications…”

Always check that sentences make sense with a better word inserted. If they don’t, adjust the rest of the sentence as needed.

One last thing:

If you insert as many power verbs as possible into your resume, it will just look like you are trying too hard.

Be reasonable. A general rule can be a maximum of two verbs per sentence.

Key Takeaways

Consider yourself fully informed about how to include action verbs on your resume.

It is a fairly basic step to ensure that the verbs on your resume aren’t bland and you don’t blend into the pile of resumes, but it makes a huge difference.

Need a little help adding powerful verbs to your resume?

Find My Profession provides an elite resume writing service that will ensure your resume stands out from the crowd.

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130 Action verbs for your CV

When writing your CV, it’s crucial to include action verbs.

Verbs are words which are used to describe your actions, so they will help you to prove what you do in the workplace – and how you benefit the companies you have worked for.

So, check out our list of 130 action words, along with guide and examples, to show you how to create a powerful interview-winning CV.

CV templates 

Top 10 action verbs for your CV

When it comes to writing your CV , you want to avoid weak, passive verbs that don’t help to showcase your abilities. Instead, you need to make the most of strong action verbs like the following:

• Managed – e.g. “Managed a 6-month project to improve the level of customer satisfaction”
• Optimised – e.g. “Optimised delivery driver’s routes to avoid overlap and ensure a quicker and more effective delivery service”
• Delivered – e.g. “Delivered the project 2 months ahead of time and £2,000 under budget”
• Streamlined – e.g. “Streamlined the existing accounts payable process to ensure invoices were being processed quicker and more accurately”
• Strengthened – e.g. “Strengthened brand awareness by growing the company’s social media and online presence”
• Negotiated – e.g. “Negotiating with vendors to get the best possible price, resulting in a saving of £150 a month”
• Oversaw – e.g. “Oversaw a team of 10 software engineers as they developed software solutions for a client”
• Formulated – e.g. “Formulated a new policy on performance reviews to ensure employees were receiving more regular feedback from managers”
• Executed – e.g. “Executed 6 projects in a year from start to finish, generating a total of £60,000 in revenue for the business”
• Motivated – e.g. “Motivated members of the team to give each other regular feedback, leading to a boost in team morale”

Leadership action verbs

Leadership skills are important in a number of roles. Using action verbs, you can showcase your effective leadership skills on your CV . These words might include :

• Established – e.g. “Established strong relationships with my team of 6 direct reports, ensuring they felt valued and heard”
• Mentored – e.g. “Mentored 2 of the junior copywriters on the team, supporting them in developing their writing and editing skills”
• Transformed – e.g. “Transformed the way remote teams collaborated by introducing a new project management tool, resulting in a 12% increase in productivity”
• Implemented – e.g. “Implemented changes to the office layout as workers returned post-lockdown, ensuring everyone felt safe and secure in the workplace”
• Motivated – e.g. “Motivated the customer service team to share feedback with one another, helping to boost relationships and increase employee happiness”
• Delegated – e.g. “Delegated tasks fairly amongst the 10 members of the marketing team to ensure all deadlines were met”
• Inspired – e.g. “Inspired the admin department to reassess their monthly spending, saving the department £200 a month”
• Coordinated – e.g. “Coordinated with the IT department to improve user functionality of the company intranet, making it easier for employees to book annual leave”
• Pioneered – e.g. “Pioneered a mentoring program for new hires that helped reduce employee turnover by 20% in the first year”
• Supervised – e.g. “Supervised a team of 5 web designers whilst all working remotely, ensuring everyone felt like a valued part of the team”

Savings (costs, time etc.)

What employer doesn’t want someone who can save them time, money and resources? So if you have used your skills to make a saving, highlight this with the following action verbs:

• Consolidated – e.g. “Consolidated the multiple ticketing systems to improve communication between the tech team, increasing ticket turnover rates by 16%”
• Decreased – e.g. “Decreased the average turnaround time on a project by 2 to 3 weeks”
• Cut – e.g. “Cut training costs by 12% after signing the company up to an online provider that allows you to run in-house training sessions”
• Lowered – e.g. “Lowered business operating costs by introducing IoT devices which controlled the temperature and electricity within the workplace”
• Reduced – e.g. “Reduced the costs of both labour and material by 8% in the first year”
• Saved – e.g. “Saved the department £2,000 a year by negotiating a better deal with our biggest supplier”
• Streamlined – e.g. “Streamlined the existing filing system, saving the company £2,000 a month on temporary hires”
• Eliminated – e.g. “Eliminated food waste in the restaurant by ensuring careful stock-taking and putting a stop to deliberate over-ordering”
• Slashed – e.g. “Slashed customer waiting times by adding chatbot software to the company website, increasing customer satisfaction by 25%”
• Eradicated – e.g. “Eradicated bulk invoicing issues by implementing automation software, reducing the time spent on labour-intensive AP tasks”

Improvement

If you’ve taken initiative and worked hard to make a real difference in a past role, you can show how you improved the workplace by using the following verbs:

• Boosted – e.g. “Boosted sales by 25% over the Christmas period using a targeted advertising campaign”
• Maximised – e.g. “Maximised productivity by introducing data entry automation software, freeing up time for more important tasks”
• Improved – e.g. “Improved employee productivity by introducing an ‘Employee of the Month’ scheme”
• Gained – e.g. “Gained an additional 10,000 followers for the company’s social media channels through a strong social media strategy”
• Enhanced – e.g. “Enhanced new and existing business opportunities in the local area by participating in community events”
• Increased – e.g. “Increased the number of positive customer reviews being left on TrustPilot by incentivising customers to leave feedback”
• Optimised – e.g. “Optimised data entry processes for better transparency so that employees can spot mistakes quicker”
• Strengthened – e.g. “Strengthened company culture by encouraging regular and meaningful one-to-ones”
• Bolstered – e.g. “Bolstered the company’s cybersecurity systems by running regular penetration tests”
• Expanded – e.g. “Expanded the marketing team to ensure more support on large-scale digital marketing campaigns”

Highlighting your sales experience offers a great opportunity for you to quantify your achievements. It also gives you an opportunity to use powerful action verbs like:

• Persuaded – e.g. “Persuaded a reluctant prospect to give our free 7-day trial a go, eventually signing them up as a new client”
• Negotiated – e.g. “Negotiated on price, delivery times and specifications with buyers to ensure the best outcome for both parties”
• Accelerated – e.g. “Accelerated the growth of the business by identifying clients in new regions”
• Generated – e.g. “Generated 125 new leads by speaking to prospectives at an industry networking event”
• Delivered – e.g. “Delivered weekly training sessions to five new junior sales assistants”
• Exceeded – e.g. “Exceeded sales targets by an average of 11% every month”
• Drove – e.g. “Drove product sales up by 10%, which led to a £4,000 increase in revenue month-on-month”
• Leveraged – e.g. “Leveraged company marketing materials to present the full range of products to prospective clients”
• Maintained – e.g. “Maintained strong relationships with clients, supporting them whenever needed and spotting any potential upselling opportunities”
• Performed – e.g. “Performed consistently above expectations, exceeding targets 5 months in a row”

There is one sure-fire way to impress the recruiter with your financial skills, and that is to use the following action verbs to highlight your achievements:

• Balanced – e.g. “Balanced the company accounts to ensure more accurate forecasting for the year ahead”
• Calculated – e.g. “Calculated the financial risk of investing over £250,000 in a new company, advising the CEO to ensure no costly mistakes were made”
• Forecasted – e.g. “Forecasted a surge in revenue during the spring accurately, proving to investors that we have a robust forecasting strategy in place”
• Invoiced – e.g. “Invoiced suppliers weekly, rather than monthly to utilise early settlement discounts, saving the company £1,000 a month”
• Projected – e.g. “Projected a decline in revenue over 6 months, allowing senior management to mitigate financial risks and temporarily cut back on spending”
• Budgeted – e.g. “Budgeted for the year ahead, working closely with the head of each department to cut down on unnecessary spending”
• Standardised – e.g. “Standardised the invoicing process to make it more efficient and cut down on time spent entering data manually”
• Conducted – e.g. “Conducted in-depth reviews of each clients’ financial circumstances to offer the best possible advice”
• Reported – e.g. “Reported on weaker accounting processes following an internal audit which led to the implementation of new automation software”
• Reviewed – e.g. “Reviewed and responded to client’s ever-changing needs and financial circumstances on a regular basis”

Technical (IT)

As technology continues to evolve, it’s crucial that you can effectively showcase your technical know-how. Action verbs like these can help you to impress employers:

• Developed – e.g. “Developed a new app for customers, making it easier for them to access their accounts, increasing customer satisfaction by 33%”
• Identified – e.g. “Identified technical problems and solved these both in person or over the phone”
• Digitised – e.g. “Digitised the companies outdated paper filing system, saving up to 5 hours a week on manual filing tasks”
• Analysed – e.g. “Analysed warehouse computer systems to diagnose issues, eventually suggesting a warehouse-wide update on outdated software ”
• Tested – e.g. “Tested the company’s networks and systems through a penetration test at least once a quarter”
• Automated – e.g. “Automated the tech team’s communication workflow to reduce confusion and encourage better collaboration”
• Installed – e.g. “Installed and configured computer hardware and operating systems across the business”
• Safeguarded – e.g. “Safeguarded sensitive employee and company data by introducing two-factor authentication across the business”
• Supported – e.g. “Supported the technical needs of employees across the business, ensuring all hardware and software were up to date at all times”
• Upgraded – e.g. “Upgraded the handheld devices used by delivery drivers to more sophisticated models, coming in £2,000 under budget”

Achievement

Highlighting your key achievements helps to show your value in the workplace and how you’ve progressed and grown in your career. There are plenty of action verbs you can use to show what you’ve achieved in past roles; these include:

• Won – e.g. “Won ‘employee of the month’ 4 times in the last year”
• Surpassed – e.g. “ Surpassed expectations to win the award for ‘Best Front of House Manager’ at the Regional Hospitality Awards”
• Outperformed – e.g. “Outperformed sales targets by £4,000 in the last 6 months”
• Accomplished – e.g. “Accomplished my goal of being promoted from PR assistant to PR executive within the year”
• Achieved – e.g. “Achieved a pass rate of 93% in my exams for the AAT Foundation Certificate in Accounting”
• Overcame – e.g. “Overcame my shyness and lack of confidence to contribute what became an award-winning idea for a digital advertising campaign”
• Succeeded – e.g. “Succeeded in training 7 new members of staff, 3 of which went on to be promoted within their first year”
• Earned – e.g. “Earned a promotion after just 6 months for my work on a high-budget marketing campaign”
• Beat – e.g. “Beat the company record for most new contracts won in a year”
• Topped – e.g. “Topped nation-wide individual sales figures for 3 months in a row in 2021”

In almost every role, you will be required to work as a team. Therefore, being able to work and collaborate with others is important. So be sure to highlight your teamwork skills using the following verbs:

• United – e.g. “United the design and tech teams to revamp the company website, resulting in a 23% spike in traffic”
• Championed – e.g. “Championed regular employee events such as cooking and yoga classes to improve relationships and boost company culture”
• Coached – e.g. “Coached new hires through their first 3 to 4 months at the business, increasing staff retention rates by 15%”
• Encouraged – e.g. “Encouraged a colleague to delegate some of their tasks between the team, to support them in meeting their deadlines”
• Cooperated – e.g. “Cooperated with the customer service teams to ensure customers had access to all the resources they needed outside of office hours”
• Collaborated – e.g. “Collaborated with the marketing department to produce clear, engaging sales content, which helped to land a contract of over £20,000”
• Contributed – e.g. “Contributed ideas during a team meeting to help create an exciting marketing campaign for the festive season”
• Joined – e.g. “Joined the company running club, often participating in events to help raise money for this year’s chosen charity”
• Participated – e.g. “Participated in and oversaw team building events, leading to a wave of positive feedback from all attendees”
• Enlisted – e.g. “Enlisted the help of the marketing department to produce a client-winning presentation to showcase our new range of products”

Problem-solving

It’s one thing being able to spot a problem, but employers want someone proactive who can fix it. You can showcase your problem-solving skills using these action verbs:

• Solved – e.g. “Solved an average of 20-30 customer queries a day”
• Corrected – e.g. “Corrected multiple spelling and grammatical errors on the company website that looked unprofessional and were damaging the brand”
• Diagnosed – e.g. “Diagnosed faults within outdated software and found room in the budget to invest in more up to date systems”
• Investigated – e.g. “Investigated and cancelled a standing order to a supplier we no longer used that had gone unnoticed for months, saving £300 a month”
• Discovered – e.g. “Discovered some gaps in the company’s social media efforts before revamping the strategy, resulting in a 13% increase in engagement”
• Uncovered – e.g. “Uncovered inefficiencies in the factory layout and implemented changes that led to a 20% increase in productivity”
• Fixed – e.g. “Fixed some long-term internal operating system issues, allowing employees to do their job more effectively”
• Noticed – e.g. “Noticed an increase in negative feelings from employees and implemented an anonymous feedback system to uncover why”
• Modernised – e.g. “Modernised the company’s accounts payable process, reducing the time it takes to process a single invoice”
• Evaluated – e.g. “Evaluated the performance of 5 direct reports over 3 months to highlight any areas where additional training might be beneficial”

Much like using teamwork, employers want candidates that can help and assist others in the workplace. You can show how you’ve supported colleagues, managers, employers and customers in the past using action verbs like:

• Helped – e.g. “Helped the administration team to identify any areas where they were overspending, getting them back on track and sticking to their budget”
• Aided – e.g. “Aided teachers in dealing with children with special educational needs (SEN)”
• Assisted – e.g. “Assisted with the onboarding process for 10 new employees during my first year at the company”
• Offered – e.g. “Offered to take notes during corporate presentations so the team could look back over these later”
• Volunteered – e.g. “Volunteered to stay late and help the digital team to ensure they rolled out their latest marketing campaign on time”
• Advised – e.g. “Advised guests on the best and most affordable way to travel around the city during their stay”
• Organised – e.g. “Organised and maintained the CEOs diary, booking meetings and setting up appointments”
• Arranged – e.g. “Arranged travel and accommodation for the film crew when they were out shooting on location”
• Enabled – e.g. “Enabled the MD to perform at their best by carefully handling their complex travelling itinerary as they travelled across 3 times zones in a week”
• Provided – e.g. “Provided support to older customers who were less agile and needed extra help getting around the store”

Responsibility

Responsibility is important in the workplace. It shows you are professional, that you can make decisions, and it can help to advance your career. So let employers know you’re reliable and responsible using action verbs like these:

• Authorised – e.g. “Authorised users and managed permissions for the company blog, overseeing the network of over 25 guest writers”
• Monitored – e.g. “Monitored the company’s entire cloud infrastructure whilst also working on 10 microservices for some of the company’s top clients”
• Spearheaded – e.g. “Spearheaded the company’s new content marketing strategy to ensure strong, engaging content that attracted visitors to the site”
• Represented – e.g. “Represented the company at relevant industry events, talking with attendees and answering their questions”
• Oversaw – e.g. “Oversaw a team of 7 contractors to create an award-winning TV advertising campaign”
• Trained – e.g. “Trained and supervised a team of 15 cashiers during my three years with the retailer”
• Ensured – e.g. “Ensured loyal clients were rewarded with discounts, improving customer retention rates”
• Managed – e.g. “Managed all of the company social media accounts, sharing engaging content to a total of 3 million followers”
• Approved – e.g. “Approved a new cybersecurity initiative that would overhaul the company’s current strategy for stronger security and better compliance”
• Directed – e.g. “Directed a team of 10 sales associates on how to promote the new product range, securing £10,000 in revenue just 2 months after its launch”

Creativity is a very sought-after skill in the workplace, but it’s not enough to simply say you’re creative – you have to prove it. You can demonstrate how you’ve put your creativity to good use in the past using the following action verbs:

• Conceptualised – e.g. “Conceptualised a new email marketing strategy that improved open rates by 17%”
• Designed – e.g. “Designed a new feature for the mobile shopping app that allowed customers to add items to their ‘favourite’ tab”
• Introduced – e.g. “Introduced a new inventory system which helped to reduce manual labour by 10%”
• Devised – e.g. “Devised enticing sponsorship packages for our latest event, securing some impressive brands”
• Launched – e.g. “Launched a new range of eco-friendly beauty products that reflects the company’s move towards sustainability”
• Innovated – e.g. “Innovated the current sales strategy to focus on building strong funnels through channels like social media, leading to an increase in sales”
• Improvised – e.g. “Improvised a new communications strategy in 2 days so that teams could quickly get the answers and support they needed from managers when working from home”
• Created – e.g. “Created a multi-media marketing campaign that increased traffic to the website by 24% in the first week”
• Invented – e.g. “Invented a new chat feature for the company’s accounting app, that allowed customers to reach out and ask for advice”
• Revolutionised – e.g. “Revolutionised the way that different departments collaborate with one another by investing in a new project management tool”

Why are action verbs important?

A modern CV is no place for modesty. It is your chance to impress employers and show them why they should hire you. Action verbs allow you to showcase your skills and highlight your achievements.

Repeatedly starting your sentences with ‘I worked on’ or ‘I did this’ is boring and repetitive, and let’s face it, it doesn’t show much creativity. However, starting your sentences off with a bang can help you to quickly capture the recruiter’s interest and encourage them to keep reading.

Not only this, but these words help the recruiter to visualise you in the role and the skills you can bring to the table. They also make it much easier for the recruiter to skim through your application, noting how you’ve added real value in past roles.

This is why action verbs are so important on your CV.

How to use action words

Action verbs help you to combat the boring, overused phrases that recruiters see a hundred times a day. So, if you want to give your CV a boost, here is how to make the most of these action verbs.

Describe your input

Under your employment section , you will include a brief description of your past roles, including your biggest achievements and responsibilities. This is your chance to show your contribution to the company.

Using action verbs, you can describe how you implemented change or how the business saw great results because of your input.

Show the outcome

Simply including a list of your past responsibilities isn’t enough to engage the recruiter. Instead, when describing your input, you also need to show the outcome.

This means using action verbs to showcase how you added value and the impact you had on the business.

You can do this under your employment history, but you might also wish to shout about any of your more impressive achievements in your personal profile as well.

Use numbers

What is the best way to show how you added value? With numbers, of course.

Don’t just fill your CV with words; make sure you’re using facts and figures to give context to the results you achieved. This might be currency, hours, percentages, etc.

For example, you might wish to include the exact figure of money you generated or saved the business. You can see this in many of the examples we’ve provided above.

Words to avoid

As well as ensuring you use powerful action verbs throughout your CV, there are also some cliche buzzwords and phrases you need to avoid. These words are overused, unimaginatively and quite frankly, they make you look lazy.

This is because they don’t actually say a whole lot about who you are or the skills you possess. Therefore, you should avoid cliches like these as much as possible:

• Team player – e.g. “I am a team player, but I also work well as an individual”
• Results-driven – e.g. “Results-driven sales professional with 3 years experience in the industry”
• Motivated – e.g. “Motivated marketing professional looking for an exciting role in a digital marketing company”
• Creative – e.g. “Creative graphic designer with 3 years of freelance experience, looking to join a friendly startup”
• Passionate – e.g. “Passionate sales professional with a proven track record”
• Strong communicator – e.g. “I am a strong communicator who is able to work well with customers”
• Dynamic – e.g. “Dynamic customer service professional with 5 years experience in the hospitality industry”
• Hardworking – e.g. “I am a hardworking IT professional who always gives it 110%”
• Thought leader – e.g. “As a target-driven thought leader, I thrive in fast-paced environments”
• People person – e.g. “I am a people person who always works well with others”

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• Resumes and CVs

Action Verbs for Resumes

Resume action words are creative and powerful verbs that you should use on your resume to make it stand out. Most bullet points on resumes start with the same words, to the point that they lose their efficacy. By using a compelling action verb, you can catch the recruiter's eye and paint a vivid picture of how you are the best candidate.

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Why Should You Use Resume Action Verbs?

Using resume action verbs will make your resume stronger by replacing those common, over-used words and phrases that recruiters see all the time with dynamic and compelling words that will catch the recruiter's eye. By starting your bullet points with action verbs, you can keep descriptions of your skills and work experiences short and powerful.

Best Action Verbs for Resumes:

Action verbs for different activities:.

Candidates tend to use various tired phrases when describing their work activities that can lead to a boring, repetitive resume. Spice things up with some action verbs and synonyms for these over-repeated phrases:

• " Responsible for ."
• " Developed," "created," or "introduced ."
• " Changed" or "improved ."
• " Managed" or "oversaw ."
• " Researched ."
• " Utilized ."

We have also gathered lists of action verbs that are great for specific positions, such as:

• Sales positions .
• Financial positions .
• Technical positions .
• Teaching positions .

Creativity and Problem-Solving Action Verbs:

The importance of creative action verbs:.

Creativity often goes hand in hand with problem-solving as coming up with out-of-the-box solutions to solve a problem requires a creative mind. Using these action verbs will show recruiters how you are creative, more than simply stating "I am creative," which doesn't actually prove that you are.

Overhauled our operating systems which increased production output by 35%.

Teamwork Action Verbs:

The importance of teamwork action verbs:.

Using teamwork active verbs will display your achievements during times when you worked with others and got great results.

Built and motivated an international team to adjust our product for international markets that increased our sales by 60%.

Communication Action Verbs:

The importance of communication action verbs:.

A resume with powerful action verbs is a great way to demonstrate your communication skills. You can emphasize them even more with targeted communication action verbs.

Authored the bimonthly company newsletter that was directly responsible for enlisting at least 5 new subscribers each month.

Leadership Action Verbs:

The importance of leadership action verbs:.

Demonstrate your leadership skills with these action verbs and show the recruiters what makes you a great leader.

Spearheaded a project to increase foot traffic to our retail store which was successful in driving sales up by 15%.

Work Ethic Action Verbs:

The importance of work ethic action verbs:.

Your work ethic can be shown through your accomplishments on behalf of your previous jobs.

Improved the arrangements in the kitchen which allowed staff to move more freely and so improved efficiency.

Organization Action Verbs:

The importance of organization action verbs:.

Show off your organizational skills by letting the recruiter know how you improved things at your previous job.

Scheduled morning meetings to discuss the day's activities and ensure all team members knew their duties.

Time Management Action Verbs:

The importance of time management action verbs:.

Recruiters look for candidates who can show great time management skills. Using these action verbs can demonstrate how you saved your company time or money.

Consolidated the Software Development Roadmap to ensure all critical projects were completed on time.

Flexibility Action Verbs:

The importance of flexibility action verbs:.

Show how you adapt to changes by using these great action verbs.

Adjusted my tasks to cover for a coworker who unexpectedly had to take an extended sick leave.

Customer Service Action Verbs:

The importance of customer service action verbs:.

There are a variety of words that can be used to describe how you assisted customers. Use one of these action verbs to grab the recruiter's attention.

Promoted the company's products and maintained a customer satisfaction rating of 85%.

"Responsible For" Action Verbs:

The importance of "responsible for" action verbs:.

Instead of simply stating what you were responsible for, try saying how you improved your tasks.

Succeeded in improving table turn over times by delivering consistent service.

"Created" Action Verbs:

The importance of "created" action verbs:.

If in your previous job you worked on any projects or created, developed, or introduced a project, use one of our action verbs to help the recruiter visualize your creativity.

Engaged in updating our job board articles to provide readers with the most up-to-date information.

"Improved" Action Verbs:

The importance of "improved" action verbs:.

Instead of simply repeating "improved...", show the amazing changes you made with these action verbs.

Suggested a new layout in the beverage supply closet which improved the servers' efficiency by 15%.

"Managed" Action Verbs:

The importance of "managed" action verbs:.

Those candidates who were in management positions in previous jobs can demonstrate their leadership skills by discussing their duties with these action verbs.

Authorized signatories on banking documents and maintained 100% financial security.

"Researched" Action Verbs:

The importance of "researched" action verbs:.

When the job description calls for research skills, use our list of action verbs to discuss your research, analysis, and fact-finding duties in your work history.

Extracted sales performance metrics from data analyses that improved sales by 15%.

"Utilized" Action Verbs:

The importance of "utilized" action verbs:.

"Utilized" is a common word applied to resumes when describing previous work experience. Spice things up with these action verbs.

Specialized in Microsoft SPSS statistical software for data analysis.

Action Verbs for Sales Positions:

Successfully negotiated and won 3 new accounts on average each month.

Action Verbs for Financial Positions:

Audited companies in various industry sectors for financial discrepancies and maintained a 95% accuracy rate.

Action Verbs for Technical Positions:

Remodeled booking software systems that reduced bugs by 20%.

Action Verbs for Teaching Positions:

Evaluated students on the use of verbs in writing resumes.

The 12 Best Cover Letter Tips for 2024

What are good action verbs for a resume?

There are a wide variety of resume action words that you should use on your resume to make it stand out. Using resume action verbs will make your resume stronger by replacing those common, over-used words and phrases that recruiters see all the time with strong, dynamic, and compelling action verbs that will catch the recruiter's eye.

How do you use action verbs in a resume?

You should use action verbs at the start of your bullet points when describing your responsibilities at your previous work experience or the skills you have achieved. By starting your bullet points with action verbs, you can keep descriptions of your skills and work experiences short and powerful.

What are some examples of action verbs?

• Instead of "problem-solving skills," try starting with "overhauled."
• Instead of "team working skills," try starting with "cooperated."
• Instead of "communication skills," try starting with "lobbied."
• Instead of "leadership skills," try starting with "founded."
• Instead of "strong work ethic," try using "exceeded" to describe how you have his skill.
• Instead of "organizational skills," try describing your skills with "modified."
• Instead of "time management skills," try using "expediated."
• Instead of "flexibility," try using "adapted" to demonstrate.
• Instead of "customer service skills," try using "promoted" to explain.

What are action verb lists?

Action verb lists are categorized lists that you can use to replace commonly-used phrases or words in your resume to make your sentences more powerful and concise.

What are power words in a resume?

Power words are action verbs that are used in a resume to help recruiters better visualize your skills and qualifications. They are generally used to make your resume stand out.

What can I say instead of "responsible for"?

• Accelerated.
• Volunteered.

What words do employers look for in a resume?

In a resume, employers tend to look for skills, so they will look for words that describe the skills they want, such as problem-solving skills , leadership skills , communication skills , team working skills , and work ethic .

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Admin assistant cover letter, how to ask for a letter of recommendation, resume tips, how to write a cv, how to create the perfect resume.

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No Problem: How To List Problem Solving Skills on a Resume

Problem solving is an in-demand skill recruiters want to see on your resume. Learn how to highlight this soft skill with our detailed guide.

2 years ago   •   4 min read

Problem solving is a key skill in life — and in most workplaces. Like any other soft skill, it belongs on your resume. The only question is, how do you prove it?

Keep scrolling as we explain how to put problem solving on your resume in a way that actually lands. We'll also explain where soft skills like problem solving belong and give examples you can follow. But first, let's take a look at exactly what hiring managers mean when they say "problem solving."

Problem solving skills employers are looking for

If a job ad says that a company is looking for applicants with "strong problem solving skills," what does that actually mean?

Hiring managers want people with skills like:

• Critical thinking
• Brainstorming
• Troubleshooting
• Negotiation
• Conflict resolution
• Organization
• Communication
• Attention to detail
• Experimenting
• Observation

That's a lot! So, how do you fit all that on your resume? Here are some tips to get you started.

How to show problem solving skills on a resume

To effectively showcase problem solving skills on your resume, follow these steps:

• Look at the job ad. What kinds of problem solving skills are specifically mentioned? What key responsibilities are likely to involve problem solving?
• Make a list of these skills or responsibilities — this is what you’ll want to address in your resume.
• Think of a time when you’ve demonstrated each problem solving skill or been in a similar situation.
• Format that incident as an accomplishment by starting with a strong action verb.
• Be specific about what you did and what the end result was.
• Check in with a free resume scanner to see how your accomplishments score and what you can improve.

Now let's take a look at where problem solving skills belong on your resume.

Where to include problem solving skills on a resume

The first thing to know is this: Problem solving is a soft skill, which means you should never list it directly in your skills section. Instead, you should:

• Include past examples of problem solving in your work experience bullet points
• List related hard skills in your skills section
• Mention key skills and accomplishments in your resume summary and cover letter
• Use synonyms to avoid repeating "problem solving" over and over

Emphasize real accomplishments

The best place for any soft skill — including problem solving — is in your Work Experience section. Make your bullet points stand out by outlining what the problem was, what action you took, and what the end result was.

Remember: The key is to be specific. For example, instead of:

Solved problems causing long delivery times.

Streamlined the implementation process and reduced the average product delivery time from 10 days to 4 days by redefining responsibilities and improving accountability of employees.

This specifies what the initial problem was, what action you took, and the end result. Use the formula [Action Verb] + [Accomplishment] + [Metric] to keep you on the right track.

List related hard skills

Problem solving is a soft skill, which means you can’t include it outright in your skills section . But what you can do is list hard skills that go hand in hand with problem solving.

For example:

• Data analysis
• Quality assurance
• Engineering
• Programming languages
• Loss prevention
• Accessibility

If you’re unsure what problem solving skills to include in your skills section, use the tool below to search for the job you’re applying to and it’ll give you a list of hard skills relevant to the job.

Include targeted highlights

If you’re applying for a role where you know that problem solving is an essential skill — like most management, data-driven, or customer-facing positions — you can emphasize your ability to solve problems in your resume summary or cover letter .

Do some research to identify the key issues facing the company, like streamlining inefficient business practices or expanding a small customer base, and highlight 2-3 skills or accomplishments related to those areas.

Here's an example:

Find out if your resume shows enough problem solving skills

An important thing to remember when listing problem solving skills on your resume is, just like other soft skills, you need to show how you’ve used problem solving skills in the past. An easy way to check if you’ve shown hiring managers your problem solving skills, is to upload your resume to the tool below — it’ll tell you if your resume has shown problem solving skills the right way, as well as other soft skills like leadership and communication skills.

Synonyms for problem solving on a resume

Trying to avoid repetition? If you’re searching for another word for problem solving to use on a resume, these action verbs have you covered:

• Transformed
• Revitalized
• Streamlined

For even more suggestions, check out our list of resume action verbs for 2024 .

Resume examples of problem solving skills

Looking for more ways to say that you’re a problem solver on a resume? Try these sample bullet points.

Proposed a plan to reduce shrink, which increased work efficiency and customer services by over 75%.

The first step in solving a problem is identifying it. Companies want to hire people who are proactive, not reactive, which means it's worth including an example of a time you first identified a problem and then took steps to solve it.

Developed a contingency plan during tough economic conditions to save $540K per year.

What's better than solving a problem? Preventing it from becoming a problem in the first place!

Reduced double-booking and error rates by 45%, resulting in a $10,800 increase in yearly sales by developing a scheduling system to coordinate advertising space availability with Sales, Designers, and the Editorial team.

The more specific you can get with your bullet points, the better. Remember, the main point of your resume isn't just to show a recruiter what you've done for other companies — it's to help them imagine what you might do for their company.

Executed self-insured health plan including wellness benefits which saved the business in excess of $70K or 20% and influenced over 200 staff members to become healthier.

What hiring managers want to see is results. Any time you can identify a specific positive outcome in your bullet points, you take one step closer to getting hired.

Responded to and managed 50+ inbound requests from members daily.

Struggling to quantify your achievements? It's okay if you don't have access to specific metrics — you can still include numbers for things like how many projects you worked on or how quickly you completed tasks.

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Six Steps Demystified

The six-step approach offers a framework for creative problem solving. Although each step is critical, it is important that participants don't forget that conducting RESEARCH on a topic sets up a strong foundation. Being knowledgeable about a topic allows for better understanding of the bigger picture and is a key part of identifying problems as well as generating solutions. Successful problem solvers always have conducted research on the topic.

There are two essential Pre-Steps before starting the six-step process.

Research the topic

Read and analyze the future scene

Underlying Problem

Evaluate Solutions

Action Plan

Develop an Action Plan

The solution idea (which receives the highest total from STEP 5) is described in detail within the action plan. Develop your action plan by relating the idea back to the U.P. Demonstrate how your action plan will achieve what you set out to accomplish in STEP 2 (the KVP and Purpose).

Tips: 

Explain in detail the  who, what, how why, where,  and  when  of your action plan. Who will carry out the plan or be involved? What will be done to solve the problem? When will the results begin and will it continue? Where will the plan be implemented? Why will this idea positively impact the future scene? How will the action plan be carried out? How does it positively impact the U.P.? 

New facts to your action plan may be added, as long as each addition represents a subpart of your action plan.

Sample Format:  One approach might be to write five complete paragraphs in elaboration of your action plan.

 An overview of the plans steps and stages of implementation ( Who  and  What ).

Discuss the reasons or logic behind the solution being the best choice ( Why  and  How  the plan solves every aspect of the U.P.).

Discuss potential roadblocks or challenges that will likely confront this action plan, along with ideas or actions for overcoming these obstacles.

Highlight the strengths which Action Plan possess.

Underscore the many positive impacts that the action plan will provide to the whole situation described in the future scene. Provide a justification ( Why  and How ) for each positive impact and benefit derived from the implementation of the action plan.

Produce Solution Ideas to the Underlying Problem

Solutions are detailed plans to solve all aspects of the team’s U.P.

Elaborate by indicating  WHO  will implement the solution idea,  WHAT  will be done,  HOW  the solution idea will work, and  WHY  the solution idea will solve the KVP and Purpose of the U.P.

Elements of the future should be incorporated within these action proposals by utilizing new or special technologies, methods, or procedures that would be effective.

Solution ideas are to be stated as definite proposals (e.g. "will").

Incorporate futuristic aspects in your writing of the solution idea.

Attempt to produce solutions for every relevant category of thought for the future scene as possible.

Generate and Select Criteria to Evaluate Solution Ideas

Brainstorm criteria that question the creative potential and importance of solution ideas. Create criteria which will measure the comparative quality (relevance and/or validity) of your STEP 3 solutions.

Only identify one concern/dimension with each criterion. Avoid the use of "and" in a criterion.

It is helpful to include  superlatives words (e.g. least, most, greatest, fewest, etc.).

You can create advanced criteria by considering various aspects of the future scene or your U.P. (KVP or Purpose) within a criterion.

Include the phrase, "which solution will" and phrase each in the form of a question.

Identify Challenges Related to the Topic or Future Scene

Challenges note important concerns, problems, issues, or challenges that have a strong possibility of occurring within the future scene. 

Written in statement form.

Stated in terms of possibility (e.g. may, could, might).

Must have relation to the future scene by containing terms or phrases that describe the topic, place, and/or individuals detailed in the future scene.

Challenges may either cause the future scene or result from the future scene.

Explain WHAT the challenge is, WHY it is a challenge, and HOW it relates to the future scene.

Phrase your challenges as cause and effect logic statements.

Attempt to find as many challenges as you can for every relevant category of thought for the future scene (about 12 categories should be your goal).

Incorporate ideas or concepts found during your research when writing the selected challenges from your group’s brainstorming whenever possible.

Select an Underlying Problem

The Underlying Problem (U.P.) is a statement of the most important challenge identified in STEP 1. The selected challenge, if solved, might solve many of the other challenges identified in the Future Scene. A challenge causing other concerns to occur in the scenario is much preferred as the U.P. rather than a challenge resulting from the future scene’s situation.

How To Structure A U.P.:   A U.P. should be stated in one question containing the following five basic components.

Condition Phrase: A beginning sentence that describes the most significant challenge selected from STEP 1 that may be causing many other challenges in the future scene. The conditions should describe an effect and a cause arising from the future scene. The conditions are the impetus for the area of concern that the team has chosen for their solution finding. Since and due to (or because) could be a format used to write the condition phrase.

Stem: Phrased as "How might we" or "In what ways might we"

Key Verb Phrase (KVP): One main verb which is active, descriptive, and clear which describes the action that must be done to solve the problem.

Purpose: The what you aim to accomplish by doing the Key Verb Phrase.

Future Scene Parameters (FSP): The geographic location, time, and topic described within the future scene.

The U.P. should address only one issue (one action in the KVP and one goal in the Purpose).

The action stated in your KVP should be clear and the goal or outcome described in your Purpose should be measurable.

Evaluate Solution Ideas to Determine the Better Action Plan

Select your 8 most promising solution ideas and list them in the 8 solution idea blanks of the grid. If you have fewer than 8, list them all. Rank order your solution ideas from 8 (best) to 1 (least effective) relative to each criterion from STEP 4. Ensure that you use each number between 8 and 1 only once in each vertical column. Sum the ratings across the grid to total the ranks given to each solution. The solution with the highest total rank is the solution used to develop your action plan in STEP 6.

It is always helpful to familiarize yourself with the six steps by looking at the full blank booklet and understanding how evaluators review each step through the GIPS Evaluation Scoresheet which can also be found under at the Virtual Center . 

The GIPS Key Tips packet found under at the Virtual Center offers more in-depth explanation of each step. If you have any questions about the six steps never hesitate to reach out to our Evaluation Director, so we can offer more insight. Always remember to review the evaluators' scoresheet after each submission and read the feedback which can offer advice on how to further improve.

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