Action Verbs

You want to use the space under your job titles to convey your ability to make things happen, solve problems, make money, cut costs, etc. These statements are the core of your resume! When writing these statements…

• Use action verbs! Action verbs will convey pictures of you doing something. o Use words that will present you as taking initiative, being creative, and accomplishing a goal.

• In using your action verbs, make certain that you use the correct verb tense. If your employment entry is in the present (for instance, a current job) be sure the verb reflects that you are still performing the duties. If the employment entry is for a past job, the verbs ought to be in the past tense. o The only exception would be for responsibilities or duties statement in a current job that reflects a duty or success performed only once (for instance, “increased sales for the 2012 fiscal year”).

• Try to quantify your action. Quantifying enhances the mental picture of your accomplishments. o How large was the budget you balanced? Certainly, a budget of $5.00 will be easier to balance and organize than a budget of $5,000,000. How many students did you teach? Usually teaching 30 students is more of a challenge than teaching 2 students.

• KNOW YOUR FIELD! DO YOUR RESEARCH! Use the buzzwords of the field in which you intend to work. Buzzwords trigger assumptions and generalizations of your skill in the mind of the reader thus making it easier for them to create the mental picture. o For instance, “multidisciplinary” or “person-centered” for psychology, and “multisensory teaching” or “cooperative teaching” for education will brighten and enhance the mental picture you choose to create for your reader.

• Avoid beginning your statements with “assisted with”, “responsibilities include”, or “duties include.” These are passive statements that do not accurately reflect your accomplishments.

• For each bullet, write about successes, accomplishments and special projects that you completed first to show that your skills can accomplish important things. LIST THE MOST

IMPORTANT BULLETS FIRST!

LIST OF ACTION VERBS

Be sure to lead your bullet points with action verbs like the examples below. Don’t be afraid to combine action verbs to make your descriptions more powerful. Circle the words that highlight your accomplishments, which will make your resume more dynamic.

MANAGING COMMUNICATING TECHNICAL CREATING

Accomplished Addressed Assembled Acted Achieved Arranged Built Adapted Administered Assessed Calculated Composed Advised Briefed Charted Conceptualized Analyzed Communicated Classified Conceived

Approved Attained Conducted

Conveyed Corresponded Defined Consolidated Directed Contacted Drafted Coordinated Edited Compiled Computed Conducted Configured Designed Detected Created Customized Designed Developed Directed Established

Delegated Determined

Enlisted Explained Developed Expressed Directed Formulated Disseminated Influenced Ensured Informed Evaluated Examined Interpreted Interviewed Developed Devised Drafted Enhanced Eliminated Expanded Expedited Fabricated Fashioned Generated Illustrated Improvised Initiated Instituted Integrated Innovated

Exceeded Mediated Improved Increased Moderated Motivated

Initiated

Negotiated Instituted Persuaded Launched Presented Led Promoted Managed Proposed Organized Publicized Oversaw Related Planned Presided Recommended Recruited Installed Launched Maintained Modified Operated Overhauled Pioneered Programmed Reconstructed Reduced Redefined Remodeled Introduced Invented Originated Performed Planned Redesigned Reshaped Revitalized Shaped Synthesized Visualized Wrote

Prioritized Reported Produced Resolved Reorganized Scheduled Streamlined Secured Suggested Summarized Strengthened Taught Supervised Translated Repaired Restored Resolved Surveyed Systemized Upgraded

Calculated Cataloged Clarified Collected Compiled Computed Critiqued Detected Diagnosed Discovered Diagnosed Discovered Documented Evaluated Examined Experimented Explored Extracted Gathered Identified Interpreted Investigated Obtained Organized Pinpointed Processed Researched Reviewed Searched Summarized Surveyed Synthesized systemized Adjusted Administered Allocated Analyzed Appraised Audited Balanced Budgeted Calculated Computed Developed Eliminated Exceeded Figured Forecast Gained Generated Increased Performed Planned Projected Reconciled Researched Acquainted Advised Adapted Answered Augmented Briefed Clarified Chaired Coached Collaborated Communicated Conducted Coordinated Delivered Demonstrated Designed Educated Empowered Enabled Evaluated Encouraged Explained Facilitated Guided Grouped Implemented Informed Innovated Installed Instituted Instructed Integrated Originated Lectured Persuaded Presented Simulated Set goals Stimulated Summarized Trained Advocated Aided Assisted Assessed Boosted Clarified Coached Consoled Counseled Diagnosed Demonstrated Delivered Educated Encouraged Expedited Explained Facilitated Familiarized Furnished Fostered Furthered goals Guided Helped Instilled Mentored Motivated Nurtured Optimized Provided Referred Represented Served Supported Stabilized

DETAILEDORIENTED

Adhere to Administered Analyzed Approved Arranged Appropriated Assured Attained Balanced Budgeted Charted Classified Collated Compared Complied Determined Documented Enforced Executed Followed through Followed up Formalized Formulated Generated Identified Implemented Inspected Met deadlines Organized Prepared Processed Provided Purchased Recorded Retrieved Screened Systemized Tabulated Validated