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info@collegeessayguy.com
www.collegeessayguy.com
Sources:
http://hls.harvard.edu/dept/opia/job-search-toolkit/action-verbs/
https://careerservices.uni.edu/sites/default/files/docs/resume_verbs.pdf
http://career.opcd.wfu.edu/files/2011/05/Action-Verbs-for-Resumes.pdf
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1tv4eW6tgT_Qjg3N2E2ejdxTW8/view?usp=sharing
http://hrweb.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/action-verbs.pdf
https://www.themuse.com/advice/185-powerful-verbs-that-will-make-your-resume-awesome
College Essay Guy’s
Epic List of Activities List Verbs
Proof You
Accomplished
Something
achieved
attained
awarded
completed
delivered
demonstrated
earned
eliminated
enlisted
ensured
exceeded
expanded
founded
grew
improved
reduced
resolved
(problems)
reached
rehabilitated
revitalized
spearheaded
succeeded
surpassed
transformed
Creative/Design
adapted
conceptualized
created
customized
designed
developed
devised
directed
drafted
established
founded
illustrated
initiated
instituted
integrated
introduced
invented
originated
performed
planned
redesigned
shaped
tailored
wrote
Analytical/Research
analyzed
collected
confirmed
critiqued
discovered
documented
evaluated
examined
extracted
identified
inspected
interpreted
interviewed
investigated
organized
quantified
reviewed
summarized
surveyed
systematized
organized
oversaw
planned
prioritized
produced
recommended
researched
reviewed
scheduled
strengthened
supervised
tested
tracked
Management/
Leadership Skills
campaigned
consolidated
contacted
converted
coordinated
developed
directed
established
evaluated
founded
generated
improved
increased
recruited
led
managed
motivated
oversaw
partnered
planned
prioritized
produced
replaced
restored
restructured
set
supervised
Helping
advocated
answered
assessed
assisted
cared for
coached
counseled
demonstrated
diagnosed
educated
expedited
facilitated
familiarized
guided
motivated
referred
rehabilitated
represented
supported
Organizing/Detail
Oriented
approved
arranged
catalogued
classified
collected
compiled
coordinated
customized
executed
generated
implemented
inspected
monitored
operated
organized
prepared
processed
purchased
recorded
retrieved
screened
specified
systematized
tabulated
People Skills/
Communication
addressed
advertised
arranged
authored
collaborated
composed
contacted
convinced
corresponded
developed
directed
discussed
documented
drafted
edited
enlisted
formulated
influenced
interacted
interpreted
interviewed
lectured
mediated
moderated
negotiated
persuaded
promoted
publicized
recruited
spoke
translated
wrote
Technical Skills/
Building stuff
adapted
assembled
built
calculated
computed
customized
designed
devised
engineered
fabricated
integrated
maintained
operated
overhauled
programmed
redesigned
remodeled
repaired
replaced
restored
solved
upgraded
Teaching Skills
adapted
advised
clarified
coached
communicated
critiqued
coordinated
demystified
developed
enabled
encouraged
enforced
evaluated
explained
facilitated
guided
informed
instructed
integrated
motivated
persuaded
set
goals
supported
taught
trained
tutored
Financial/Money stuff
administered
analyzed
appraised
balanced
budgeted
calculated
computed
developed
fundraised
managed
marketed
planned
projected
raised
researched
Important Note About
Overdoing Your Verbs:
It is possible to sound
overwritten, like you had a
professional resume writer write
your resume. This usually happens
when the verbs sound just a little
too corporate. For reference,
below are some examples I would
not recommend using--unless the
word is the absolute perfect
word!--as they’d make me wonder
if the student hired a
professional resume writer. I’m
not going to say 100% DO NOT
use these words, but at the very
least proceed with caution.
“Corporate” Verbs I
Would Caution
Against Using on Your
Activities List
allocated
apprised
arbitrated
audited
augmented
briefed
dispatched
executed
expedited
familiarized
formalized
forecasted
forged
fostered
interceded
maximized
outpaced
presided
projected
queried
standardized
simulated
stimulated
substantiated
transmitted
validated
yielded