It’s easy to get resume action verbs wrong. That’s probably why they’ve gotten such a bad reputation – most people dump action words to get past automated scanning tools. It’s even worse if your expertise doesn’t line up cleanly with the position you’re applying for.
A better approach is to be specific about your goal and how you intend to bring your skills and expertise to the position. For this reason, Resume action verbs is the best way to showcase your accomplishments and why it mattered in the most concise way.
But using actions verbs in resume is not as simple as sprinkling a bunch of creative action verbs on a piece of paper and hoping something ticks. Here’s how to use action verbs on your resume to give potential employers a preview of your expertise.
How to Use Resume Action Verbs for Creative Positions
Under the experience/work history section of your resume, describe your positions using powerful action verb statements. How to write accomplishment statements in your resume? It’s quite easy once if you follow this format:
Resume Action Verb + What You Did + How or Why + End Results
- Pick an action verb.
- Then provide the context for that action using quantitative and qualitative terms.
- Showcase the end result of your actions to show the value of your contributions to the team/organization.
- Remember, accomplishment statements should showcase your achievements and results instead of duties and responsibilities.
Sample Resume Action Verbs Statements
Ineffective Resume Action Verb Statement: 1.) Conceptualized ‘Princeton Bhangra League.’ 2.) Pioneered ‘College & Career Night.’
Effective Resume Action Verb Statement: 1. Conceptualized and managed ‘Princeton Bhangra League’ for +200 residents to foster a welcoming and collaborative community, increase campus involvement, personal competencies, and provide opportunities for students to meet new people.
2.) Revamped college mural with 5 member team representing Princeton University and placed 1st in Alumni Mural Competition 2019.
Resume Action Verbs List for Creative Positions
One of the most important rules for using action verbs is to choose them based on the jobs you’re applying to. If you are a job seeker who wants to gain a creative leadership position, you want to pick action verbs that best describe your leadership and management skills. Here’s an action verbs list for creative positions:
CREATIVE PLANNING:
Example: Developed a company culture initiative which raised employee presenteeism by 25% YoY.
- Administered
- Commissioned
- Conceptualized
- Cataloged
- Classified
- Developed
- Devised
- Formulated
- Generated
- Identified
- Incorporated
- Observed
- Organized
- Planned
- Prioritized
- Researched
- Revised
- Strategize
- Tailored
ORGANIZING
Example: Implemented company-wide book reading practice that led to better workflow and higher productivity.
- Arranged
- Assembled
- Assigned
- Centralized
- Coordinated
- Compiled
- Customized
- Delegated
- Designated
- Established
- Facilitated
- Implemented
- Incorporated
- Issued
- Organized
- Prepared
- Scheduled
- Systemized
- Suggested
- Tracked
CREATIVE MANAGEMENT
Example: Worked closely with marketing team to revise the creative direction on five projects.
- Acted
- Approved
- Assessed
- Authorized
- Built
- Chaired
- Carried out
- Certified
- Corrected
- Completed
- Conducted
- Controlled
- Consolidated
- Decided
- Directed
- Emphasized
- Enforced
- Entered
- Established
- Exercised
- Executed
- Graded
- Handled
- Hired
- Installed
- Operated
- Overhauled
- Performed
- Processed
- Produced
- Refined
- Revised
- Screened
- Sold
- Transacted
- Updated
CREATIVE LEADERSHIP
Example: Created, produced, and spearheaded five projects from concept to solution for clients.
- Accelerated
- Chaired
- Changed
- Composed
- Directed
- Employed
- Encouraged
- Fostered
- Founded
- Initiated
- Inspired
- Mentored
- Motivated
- Originated
- Pioneered
- Spearheaded
- Transformed
CREATIVE THINKING
Example: Revived all merchandising decisions across various product categories and country-wide stores.
- Analyzed
- Brainstormed
- Detected
- Diagnosed
- Found
- Remedied
- Revived
- Theorized
COMMUNICATING
Example: Consulted internet startup as it grew to 20,000 customer base.
- Acted
- Amended
- Arbitrated
- Briefed
- Consulted
- Drafted
- Edited
- Educated
- Fashioned
- Highlighted
- Illustrated
- Instructed
- Interpreted
- Marketed
- Moderated
- Negotiated
- Publicized
- Represented
- Solicited
- Supported
- Verified
- Welcomed
HELPING
Example: Entrusted to coach screenwriters and uphold protocol within the network among TV executives.
- Aided
- Advised
- Assured
- Coached
- Counseled
- Helped
- Polished
- Provided
- Rehabilitated
- Rescued
- Saved
- Served
- Validated
If you’d like to take a dive into resume writing tips and techniques, we have prepared a guide that could help you write a resume within minutes.
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