Replace weak phrases like "responsible for" with stronger action verbs—organized by skill, role, and resume tense rules.
Paste your resume bullets and get stronger verb suggestions + rewritten examples.
Top verb replacements:
3 rewritten bullet examples:
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Action verbs are strong verbs that start resume bullets to show ownership and impact. They replace weak phrases like "responsible for" or "helped with" and make your accomplishments clearer and more compelling.
One of the most common resume mistakes is mixing tenses. Follow this simple rule:
Current job: present tense
Lead, Manage, Drive, Build, Optimize
Past job: past tense
Led, Managed, Drove, Built, Optimized
Projects: depends on status
Ongoing project = present; Completed project = past
Present tense:
Lead a team of 6 engineers
Past tense:
Led a team of 6 engineers
Present tense:
Build dashboards in SQL
Past tense:
Built dashboards in SQL
Present tense:
Manage $2M annual budget
Past tense:
Managed $2M annual budget
Present tense:
Drive 25% revenue growth
Past tense:
Drove 25% revenue growth
Present tense:
Optimize conversion funnels
Past tense:
Optimized conversion funnels
Present tense:
Coordinate cross-functional projects
Past tense:
Coordinated cross-functional projects
Pro tip: Never mix tenses within the same job. Pick one and stick with it.
Browse 200+ action verbs organized by skill area. Click "Copy list" to save for later.
See how action verbs transform weak bullets into strong impact statements:
❌ Before:
Responsible for customer inquiries
✅ After:
Resolved 40+ customer inquiries/day, improving CSAT by 12%
❌ Before:
Helped with reporting
✅ After:
Automated weekly reporting, cutting prep time by 60%
❌ Before:
Worked on sales pipeline
✅ After:
Built sales pipeline generating $1.2M in qualified leads
❌ Before:
Assisted with team projects
✅ After:
Coordinated 3 cross-functional projects, delivering all on time
❌ Before:
In charge of social media
✅ After:
Grew Instagram following by 150% (5k → 12.5k) in 6 months
❌ Before:
Handled customer complaints
✅ After:
De-escalated 95% of complaints, retaining $200k in annual revenue
❌ Before:
Responsible for budget tracking
✅ After:
Managed $500k budget, reducing costs by 18% while maintaining quality
❌ Before:
Worked on website redesign
✅ After:
Led website redesign, increasing conversion rate from 2.1% to 3.8%
Notice the pattern: Strong verb + what you did + metric = impact statement.
Customer service roles need verbs that show problem-solving, empathy, and efficiency:
De-escalated, Resolved, Reassured, Calmed, Mediated
Example: De-escalated 30+ high-priority complaints/week, maintaining 92% retention rate
Processed, Handled, Triaged, Expedited, Prioritized
Example: Processed 60+ support tickets daily with 95% first-contact resolution
Improved, Standardized, Documented, Enhanced, Optimized
Example: Standardized response templates, reducing average handle time by 25%
Onboarded, Educated, Retained, Satisfied, Consulted
Example: Onboarded 200+ new customers, achieving 88% product adoption rate
Use verbs that match the job description's core responsibilities. Put the tool/skill keyword in the same bullet.
Formula 1: Verb + what + tool + metric
Built dashboards in Tableau, enabling real-time tracking of 15 KPIs
Formula 2: Verb + outcome + using [skill]
Increased conversion rate by 22% using A/B testing and Google Analytics
Formula 3: Verb + [skill] + to achieve [result]
Leveraged Python and SQL to automate reporting, saving 10 hours/week
Formula 4: Verb + project + with [tool/skill]
Led migration to AWS, reducing infrastructure costs by 35%
Formula 5: Verb + [skill] strategy + impact
Developed SEO strategy, growing organic traffic from 5k to 25k/month
Pro tip: Mirror the job description's language. If they say "Salesforce," use "Salesforce" (not "CRM").
Many people search for "Harvard action verbs" or "PDF list." Here's what they're looking for:
People search "Harvard action verbs" because they want a reputable-looking list from a trusted source. Harvard's Office of Career Services has published resume guides that include action verb lists, which became popular references.
This page provides the same comprehensive verb list—organized by skill area for easier use.
A PDF list is useful for printing or saving offline. You can copy/paste the verb lists on this page, or use the "Copy list" buttons in each category above.
Tip: Bookmark this page or save the verb lists you need for quick reference while writing your resume.
Good action verbs are specific, strong, and match your role. Use "Led" instead of "was responsible for," "Built" instead of "worked on," and "Resolved" instead of "helped with." Choose verbs that show ownership and impact.
Aim for variety—don't start every bullet with "Managed" or "Led." Use 10-15 different verbs across your resume to keep it engaging and show diverse skills.
Yes. Resume bullets should start with action verbs (past tense for old jobs, present tense for current job). This makes your accomplishments clear and concise.
Current job = present tense (Lead, Manage, Build). Past jobs = past tense (Led, Managed, Built). Never mix tenses within the same job.
Yes. "Responsible for" is weak and passive. Replace it with strong verbs: "Managed," "Led," "Owned," "Delivered," or "Executed." Show what you did, not just what you were responsible for.
ATS systems scan for keywords, including action verbs that match the job description. Using strong, relevant verbs helps your resume pass ATS screening and rank higher.
You can still use strong verbs. Focus on scope, tools, and outcomes: "Built customer onboarding process using Salesforce" or "Coordinated 5-person team across 3 time zones."
Led, Managed, Directed, Mentored, Coached, Spearheaded, Championed, Guided, Empowered, Aligned, Mobilized.
Resolved, Assisted, Supported, De-escalated, Processed, Triaged, Onboarded, Retained, Educated, Consulted.
Avoid vague buzzwords like "synergized" or "leveraged synergies." Use specific, measurable verbs: "Collaborated," "Integrated," "Coordinated," "Delivered."
You can copy/paste the verb lists from this page using the "Copy list" buttons in each category. Bookmark this page for quick reference while writing your resume.
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