Do Action Verbs Make a Difference on Your Resume?

The job search is a job itself, so adding one more step — including action words and phrases to better highlight your skills, experience and accomplishments — might seem daunting. However, putting in the extra effort to deeply consider each role you’re applying for and tailor your resume with action-word specific phrases, could better your chances of landing an interview.

By Helen Harris

If you’ve created a resume, you’re likely familiar with the tried-and-true skills and experiences sections.?

I recall my first resume. A few of my skills included words such as communicable, good listener, fast learner, determined and detail-oriented. These weren’t action words but rather things I felt I was good at. And that’s often how many professionals approach resumes today — by considering what they’re good at or skills they’re developing.

Will Action Verbs Help You Land the Job??

But what if there was a better way to get an employer’s attention and communicate what you could bring to the hypothetical work table? While wording isn’t the definitive game changer in determining if someone will land a job or not (ultimately, you need to have the qualifications and experience necessary for the job), it will increase the chances that a hiring manager will want to learn more about you in a stack of 100-plus resumes.

“Action words are great to use in order to paint a picture or create a visual representation in the reader's mind of you accomplishing or achieving results that reinforce your qualifications,” said Kamara Toffolo , LinkedIn Top Voice and consultant, executive resume writer, and job search strategist. “Action words on a resume also keep a reader engaged.”?

Toffolo explains that she likes to see action verbs at the start of every single accomplishment or bullet point on a resume. She additionally pointed to the usefulness of a thesaurus while writing this section of your resume when looking for ways to change a word.

Business News Daily explains this concept further in the article “25 Action Words to Include on Your Resume,” stating action words are the verbs on your resume that allow hiring managers to quickly understand where you spent most of your time in each job and what impact you had on the organization as a whole.?

“One of the shifts that we've seen over the years is moving away from a resume just being a list of responsibilities and more about showing your impact and telling a story,” said Dana Leavy-Detrick , executive resume writer, personal brand strategist and career consultant at Brooklyn Resume Studio.?

“Action verbs in a resume speak to what you are trying to accomplish — whether you have certain goals in your position or certain goals you're trying to achieve for the company. This has a lot more impact and speaks more to your contributions versus just listing out what you were generally responsible for.”?

Should You Tailor Your Resume with Action Words for Each Job??

CNBC reported in 2019 that over 95% of Fortune 500 companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) and that many small companies are also starting to embrace the system. This means that before a hiring manager reviews your resume, it is first scanned for the rich action words or phrases a particular company is looking for.?

Leavy-Detrick suggests you go the extra mile and dig up what action words you can tailor toward a specific position for which you are applying.

“There are intricate differences in each job description,” said Leavy-Detrick. The best way to choose action words is by looking at the language they're using in the job description and peppering that throughout the resume.”?

But before spicing up your resume with action words for a particular role, Bernadette Pawlik , a career coach and mentor, backed by her 25 years of executive recruiting experience, cautions job seekers to first consider if they are 100% qualified.?

“Where the wording is critical is in the reading of the job description, and then mirroring that in your resume if you can do it with integrity,” said Pawlik. “You need to focus on the roles for which you are most qualified. Look at the words following ‘responsible for’ in the job posting and ask yourself if you’ve been responsible for these things or have the capability and skills to do so. If you can confidently say yes, pursue the role.”

Which Action Verbs Are Best To Use on a Resume??

With several action verbs to choose from depending on your background, experience and desired jobs, Leavy-Detrick stresses that the ultimate goal should be to choose the right action words to communicate your impact, scope and level of responsibility.

“If you are of a certain career level, using the right verbs in your resume is a great way to speak to that level of responsibility,” said Leavy-Detrick. “For example, a CEO or an executive-level person isn’t going to use verbs like coordinating or assisted but rather words such as lead deploy — much more powerful, loaded verbs that speak to their level of responsibility.”?

While the list of action verbs is never-ending, here are a few of the action-rich words Business News Daily shared:

• Boosted
• Accelerated
• Enhanced
• Expanded
• Strengthened
• Directed
• Organized
• Supervised
• Spearheaded
• Constructed
• Launched
• Established
• Initiated
• Supported
• Informed
• Resolved
• Exceeded
• Earned
• Succeeded

How To Get Started Using Action Words on Your Resume

To precisely sum up how to effectively use action words in your resume, Toffolo suggests you ask yourself these two questions:?

1. Are you qualified for the job??
2. If you are qualified, have you shown on your resume with action words that your qualifications are clear?

By answering these questions and then using action verbs to tell your career story and accomplishments, you are well on your way to getting — and keeping your reader’s attention — and possibly landing that big interview.?