Appendix B: Effective Action Verbs and Adverbs
HOW YOU WRITE YOUR RESUME is just as important as what you write. In describing previous work experiences, the strongest resumes use short phrases beginning with action verbs and positive adverbs. Below are some of those you might want to use. These lists are not all-inclusive, but they should help you when you are trying to add variety and forcefulness to your descriptions of your job experiences and your abilities.
400 Action Verbs
Accelerated
Accentuated
Accomplished
Achieved
Acted
Activated
Actuated
Adapted
Addressed
Adjusted
Administered
Advanced
Advertised
Advised
Advocated
Aided
Allocated
Amplified
Analyzed
Answered
Anticipated
Applied
Appointed
Appraised
Approved
Arbitrated
Arranged
Ascertained
Assembled
Assessed
Assigned
Assisted
Assumed
Attained
Audited
Augmented
Authorized
Awarded
Balanced
Began
Boosted
Briefed
Broadened
Budgeted
Built
Calculated
Captured
Cataloged
Centralized
Chaired
Charted
Checked
Clarified
Classified
Coached
Collaborated
Collected
Combined
Communicated
Compared
Compiled
Completed
Composed
Computed
Conceived
Conceptualized
Condensed
Conducted
Conferred
Conserved
Consolidated
Constructed
Consulted
Contacted
Continued
Contracted
Contributed
Controlled
Convened
Converted
Conveyed
Convinced
Cooperated
Coordinated
Corresponded
Counseled
Created
Critiqued
Cultivated
Customized
Debugged
Decided
Defined
Delegated
Delivered
Demonstrated
Described
Designated
Designed
Detected
Determined
Developed
Devised
Diagnosed
Diagrammed
Directed
Discovered
Dispatched
Dispensed
Displayed
Dissected
Distributed
Diverted
Documented
Drafted
Drew
Earned
Edited
Educated
Effected
Eliminated
Emphasized
Employed
Encouraged
Enforced
Engineered
Enhanced
Enlarged
Enlisted
Ensured
Entered
Entertained
Established
Estimated
Evaluated
Examined
Executed
Expanded
Expedited
Experimented
Explained
Explored
Expressed
Extended
Extracted
Fabricated
Facilitated
Fashioned
Filed
Finalized
Fixed
Focused
Forecasted
Formed
Formulated
Fostered
Found
Founded
Fulfilled
Furnished
Gained
Gathered
Generated
Governed
Grossed
Guided
Handled
Harmonized
Headed
Heightened
Helped
Hired
Honed
Hosted
Hypothesized
Identified
Illustrated
Imagined
Implemented
Improved
Improvised
Incorporated
Increased
Indexed
Influenced
Informed
Initiated
Innovated
Inspected
Inspired
Installed
Instituted
Instructed
Integrated
Interacted
Interpreted
Interviewed
Introduced
Invented
Inventoried
Investigated
Invited
Involved
Issued
Joined
Judged
Kept
Launched
Learned
Lectured
Led
Lifted
Listened
Located
Logged
Maintained
Managed
Manipulated
Marketed
Matched
Maximized
Measured
Mediated
Merged
Mobilized
Modified
Monitored
Motivated
Navigated
Netted
Observed
Obtained
Opened
Operated
Orchestrated
Ordered
Organized
Originated
Outdid
Outlined
Overcame
Overhauled
Oversaw
Paid
Participated
Passed
Performed
Persuaded
Photographed
Piloted
Pinpointed
Pioneered
Placed
Planned
Played
Posted
Predicted
Prepared
Prescribed
Presented
Preserved
Presided
Prevented
Printed
Prioritized
Processed
Produced
Professionalized
Programmed
Projected
Promoted
Promulgated
Proofread
Proposed
Protected
Proved
Provided
Publicized
Published
Purchased
Qualified
Questioned
Raised
Ran
Rated
Reached
Realized
Reasoned
Received
Recommended
Reconciled
Recorded
Recruited
Reduced
Reestablished
Reevaluated
Referred
Regulated
Rehabilitated
Reinforced
Reinvigorated
Related
Remodeled
Rendered
Reorganized
Repaired
Replaced
Reported
Represented
Researched
Reshaped
Resolved
Responded
Restored
Restructured
Resupplied
Retrieved
Revamped
Reviewed
Revised
Revitalized
Routed
Saved
Scheduled
Screened
Searched
Secured
Selected
Separated
Served
Serviced
Settled
Shaped
Shared
Signed
Simplified
Simulated
Sketched
Sold
Solicited
Solved
Sorted
Spearheaded
Specialized
Specified
Spoke
Sponsored
Staffed
Standardized
Started
Streamlined
Strengthened
Structured
Studied
Substituted
Suggested
Summarized
Supervised
Supplied
Supplemented
Supported
Surpassed
Surveyed
Sustained
Synthesized
Systemized
Targeted
Taught
Terminated
Tested
Tightened
Totaled
Tracked
Traded
Trained
Transcribed
Transformed
Translated
Transmitted
Transported
Traveled
Tutored
Uncovered
Undertook
Unified
United
Updated
Upgraded
Used
Utilized
Validated
Verbalized
Verified
Vitalized
Volunteered
Weighed
Widened
Won
Worked
Wrote
400 Adverbs
Absolutely
Accommodatingly
Accordingly
Accurately
Actively
Acutely
Adamantly
Adeptly
Adequately
Adroitly
Advantageously
Affably
Affectingly
Affectionately
Affirmatively
Aggressively
Alertly
Ambitiously
Amicably
Amply
Analytically
Appraisingly
Appreciatively
Appropriately
Artfully
Articulately
Artistically
Assertively
Assuredly
Astutely
Attentively
Authoritatively
Automatically
Autonomously
Avidly
Beamingly
Beautifully
Becomingly
Befittingly
Believably
Bravely
Brightly
Brilliantly
Busily
Calmly
Candidly
Capably
Carefully
Caringly
Casually
Cautiously
Ceremoniously
Charmingly
Cheerfully
Cheerily
Civilly
Cleanly
Cleverly
Closely
Coherently
Colorfully
Comfortably
Comfortingly
Commandingly
Communicatively
Comparatively
Competently
Competitively
Completely
Composedly
Comprehendingly
Concisely
Conclusively
Confidentially
Confidently
Congenially
Conscientiously
Consciously
Conservatively
Consistently
Conveniently
Convincingly
Coolly
Cooperatively
Cordially
Correctively
Courageously
Courteously
Creatively
Critically
Decidedly
Decisively
Definitely
Deftly
Deliberately
Delicately
Delightedly
Delightfully
Demonstrably
Dependably
Descriptively
Determinedly
Devotedly
Dexterously
Dignifiedly
Diligently
Diplomatically
Directly
Discreetly
Distinctly
Divinely
Doggedly
Dramatically
Drastically
Eagerly
Earnestly
Easily
Educationally
Effectively
Effervescently
Efficiently
Effortlessly
Elaborately
Elegantly
Eloquently
Emphatically
Encouragingly
Energetically
Engagingly
Enjoyably
Enthusiastically
Evenly
Exactingly
Experimentally
Expertly
Explicitly
Expressively
Extensively
Exuberantly
Faithfully
Favorably
Fearlessly
Fervently
Fiercely
Firmly
Fittingly
Flexibly
Fluently
Fluidly
Fondly
Forcefully
Forcibly
Foresightedly
Formally
Frankly
Freely
Freshly
Gaily
Gallantly
Gamely
Generously
Genially
Gently
Genuinely
Gleefully
Good-Naturedly
Gracefully
Graciously
Gradually
Grammatically
Gratefully
Handily
Happily
Harmoniously
Heartily
Heedfully
Helpfully
Honestly
Honorably
Hopefully
Hopingly
Humbly
Imaginatively
Immaculately
Independently
Indirectly
Industriously
Informatively
Ingeniously
Inquisitively
Insightfully
Insistently
Instinctively
Instinctually
Instructively
Intellectually
Intelligently
Intelligibly
Intensely
Intently
Interestedly
Intrepidly
Intricately
Intriguingly
Intuitively
Inventively
Jauntily
Jocularly
Jointly
Jovially
Joyfully
Judiciously
Justly
Keenly
Kindly
Knowingly
Laboriously
Liberally
Lightly
Logically
Loyally
Lucidly
Mannerly
Masterfully
Maturely
Meaningfully
Mechanically
Merrily
Methodically
Meticulously
Mindfully
Minutely
Moderately
Modestly
Naturally
Neatly
Nicely
Nimbly
Nobly
Noncompetitively
Obediently
Obligingly
Observantly
Occasionally
Officially
Openly
Optimistically
Outrageously
Overwhelmingly
Painstakingly
Particularly
Passionately
Patiently
Peacefully
Perceptively
Perfectly
Perkily
Perpetually
Perseveringly
Persistently
Persuasively
Physically
Plainly
Playfully
Pleasantly
Pleasingly
Pointedly
Politely
Positively
Potently
Practically
Precisely
Preparedly
Professionally
Proficiently
Profoundly
Progressively
Promptly
Properly
Proudly
Prudently
Punctiliously
Purposefully
Quickly
Rapidly
Rationally
Readily
Realistically
Reasonably
Reassuringly
Receptively
Reflectively
Refreshingly
Regularly
Reliably
Repeatedly
Resolutely
Resoundingly
Resourcefully
Respectably
Respectfully
Responsibly
Responsively
Rigorously
Robustly
Routinely
Satisfactorily
Securely
Selectively
Self-Assuredly
Selflessly
Sensibly
Sensitively
Seriously
Sharply
Shrewdly
Significantly
Silently
Simply
Simultaneously
Sincerely
Single-Handedly
Skillfully
Smartly
Smoothly
Snappily
Solidly
Soothingly
Sophisticatedly
Soundly
Sparingly
Spiritedly
Splendidly
Spontaneously
Stalwartly
Stately
Steadfastly
Steadily
Stoutly
Straightforwardly
Strategically
Strictly
Strongly
Studiously
Stupendously
Sturdily
Stylishly
Substantially
Successfully
Superbly
Supportively
Surely
Sympathetically
Systematically
Tactfully
Tastefully
Technically
Tenaciously
Thoroughly
Thoughtfully
Tirelessly
Tolerantly
Tremendously
Triumphantly
Trustingly
Trustworthily
Truthfully
Unabashedly
Unaffectedly
Unassumingly
Unblinkingly
Uncritically
Understandingly
Unemotionally
Unequivocally
Unfalteringly
Unflinchingly
Unselfishly
Unsettlingly
Unusually
Unwaveringly
Unyieldingly
Uprightly
Urgently
Usefully
Valiantly
Valorously
Verbally
Vibrantly
Victoriously
Vigilantly
Vigorously
Voraciously
Warmly
Watchfully
Welcomingly
Wholeheartedly
Willfully
Willingly
Wisely
Zealously
Zestfully
