Action Verbs
Strong, specific verbs that open resume bullet points and communicate what you did, not what your job was. Words like 'Led,' 'Built,' 'Reduced,' or 'Negotiated' are more compelling and precise than passive phrases like 'Responsible for' or 'Worked on.'
Resume bullet points should always start with an action verb in past tense (or present tense for your current role). The verb establishes agency — it tells the reader you did something, not just that the work happened in your vicinity. Weak openers to avoid: 'Responsible for,' 'Assisted with,' 'Helped with,' 'Was involved in,' 'Worked on,' 'Duties included.' Strong action verbs to use instead: Led, Built, Launched, Negotiated, Reduced, Increased, Designed, Implemented, Analyzed, Recruited, Managed, Delivered, Secured, Migrated, Automated, Coached, Wrote, Presented, Audited. Precision matters as much as strength. 'Improved' is weaker than 'Reduced customer churn by 18%.' 'Managed' is vague — 'Managed a $2.4M annual budget' is specific. Vary your verbs across bullets. Starting every line with 'Managed' signals limited range. Aim for no more than two bullets with the same opening verb per role. Don't use buzzwords disguised as verbs: 'Leveraged,' 'Synergized,' 'Spearheaded' (overused), 'Interfaced with.' These sound strong but have been diluted by overuse and carry no meaning to most readers.
Why it matters
Action verbs are how recruiters quickly categorize what level of work you've done. A manager 'led' a team; an analyst 'built' a model; a junior contributor 'supported' a project. The verb signals your seniority as much as your job title.
Candidate tip
Scan every bullet point on your resume for weak openers like 'Responsible for' or 'Helped with' and rewrite each one with a direct action verb that names what you specifically did.
Put this into practice with the candidate.so Resume Builder.
Learn more →Related terms
Resume Bullet Points
Resume & CVThe individual achievement statements in your work experience section. Each bullet should open with an action verb, describe one specific accomplishment, and — whenever possible — include a metric or quantifiable result.
Quantifiable Achievements
Resume & CVAccomplishments on your resume backed by specific numbers, percentages, or dollar figures. 'Increased sales by 34%' is more compelling than 'Improved sales.' Quantification gives recruiters objective evidence of the scale and impact of your work.
Resume Summary
Resume & CVA 2-4 sentence paragraph at the top of your resume that distills your professional identity, key skills, and career value. It replaces the outdated objective statement and gives recruiters an immediate answer to 'why should we read further?'
Resume Tailoring
Resume & CVCustomizing your resume for each specific job application by mirroring the job description's language, emphasizing the most relevant experience, and adjusting your summary and skills section to match what the employer is looking for.