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POWER VERBS

Skill statements, the bulleted list that describes your experience in a resume or CV, should

begin with a strong, powerful verb. If you’re struggling to find verbs to begin your skill

statements, pick one from the list below! The power verbs are sorted into categories based on

skills and competencies employers often seek in candidates.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

PROBLEM SOLVING

Alleviated Conceptualized Detected Found Remodeled Revived

Analyzed Created Diagnosed Generated Repaired Satisfied

Brainstormed Debugged Engineered Investigated Resolved Streamlined

Collaborated Decided Foresaw Recommended Revamped Synthesized

Conceived Deciphered Formulated Remedied Revitalized Theorized

QUANTITATIVE

Accounted for Checked Dispensed Grossed Projected Tabulated

Appraised Compiled Dispersed Increased Purchased Totaled

Approximated Compounded Earned Inventoried Quantified

Audited Computed Enumerated Maximized Rated

Balanced Conserved Estimated Multiplied Reconciled

Budgeted Converted Figured Netted Recorded

Calculated Counted Financed Profited Reduced

Reduced trials from 30-25 to increase experiment efficiency

Accomplished Constructed Ensured Hastened Maximized Reduced

Achieved Contributed Excelled Heightened Minimized Rejeuvenated

Added Delivered Expanded Improved Modernized Renovated

Advanced Demonstrated Expedited Increased Obtained Restored

Attained Diminished Extended Innovated Orchestrated Spearheaded

Augmented Earned Finalized Integrated Overcame Succeeded

Boosted Eclipsed Fulfilled Introduced Prevailed Transformed

Combined Enjoyed Generated Joined Qualified Uncovered

Completed Enlarged Grew Launched Realized Upgraded

Consolidated Enlisted Guaranteed Lightened Received Won

Increased student participation by 25% over a 6-month period

Investigated the efficacy of CRISPR-Cas9 techniques

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COMMUNICATION

Acted Composed Elicited Justified Related Substantiated

Adapted Concluded Explained Lectured Rendered Suggested

Addressed Consented Extracted Mediated Reported Summarized

Admitted Consulted Fabricated Marketed Represented Supplemented

Allowed Convinced Fashioned Moderated Responded Supported

Amended Corresponded Greeted Negotiated Revealed Surveyed

Arbitrated Critiqued Highlighted Perceived Sanctioned Synthesized

Argued Dedicated Illustrated Persuaded Settled Systematized

Ascertained Defined Improvised Presented Shaped Taught

Attested Deliberated Indicated Promoted Smoothed Tested

Briefed Demonstrated Inferred Publicized Sold Translated

Clarified Drafted Informed Queried Solicited Transmitted

Cleared up Dramatized Instructed Questioned Specified Verified

Closed Edited Interpreted Referred Spoke Welcomed

Communicated Educated Interviewed Reinforced Submitted Wrote

HELPING + TEAMWORK

Accommodated Coached Eased Helped Polished Returned

Advised Collaborated Elevated Interceded Prescribed Saved

Aided Continued Enabled Mediated Protected Served

Alleviated Contributed Endorsed Mobilized Provided Supported

Assisted Cooperated Enhanced Modeled Rehabilitated Sustained

Assured Counseled Enriched Participated Relieved Tutored

Bolstered Dealt Familiarized Partnered Rescued Validated

RESEARCH

Analyzed Conducted Diagnosed Formulated Located Reported

Ascertained Confirmed Estimated Gathered Measured Researched

Collected Critiqued Evaluated Identified Prescribed Reviewed

Compared Deciphered Examined Integrated Prioritized Scrutinized

Computed Detected Experimented Invented Projected Solved

Conceptualized Determined Extracted Investigated Rated Studied

Concluded Devised Forecasted Justified Replicated Summarized

Presented to groups of 30+ transfer students on a weekly basis concerning university policies and procedures

Provided academic support for 30+ at-risk primary school students through an after-school program

Analyzed water quality of glacial ponds which resulted in findings featured in a mobile app “Island of Ice”

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NEED MORE HELP WITH YOUR RESUME?

Check out these resources for additional support:

ORGANIZATION

Acquired Authorized Customized Instituted Planned Scheduled

Activated Cataloged Delegated Issued Prepared Secured

Adjusted Centralized Designated Linked Prioritized Selected

Allocated Charted Designed Logged Processed Simplified

Altered Classified Dispatched Mapped out Procured Sought

Appointed Collected Established Neatened Programmed Straightened

Arranged Committed Facilitated Obtained Recruited Suggested

Assembled Confirmed Housed Ordered Rectified Supplied

Assessed Contracted Implemented Organized Retrieved Standardized

Assigned Coordinated Incorporated Oriented Routed Validated

LEADERSHIP

Adjusted Corrected Founded Managed Prohibited Spearheaded

Analyzed Correlated Graded Measured Raised Strengthened

Apportioned Developed Guided Mentored Recommended Supervised

Assessed Directed Hired Modified Recruited Supplied

Assumed Discovered Indexed Monitored Refined Tightened

Caused Elected Influenced Motivated Regulated Traced

Certified Employed Initiated Officiated Reviewed Trained

Chaired Empowered Inspected Organized Revised Transformed

Changed Encouraged Inspired Overhauled Sanctioned United

Compared Enhanced Judged Oversaw Screened Updated

Conducted Established Led Pioneered Scrutinized Visualized

Controlled Examined Licensed Policed Set

Coordinated Explored Maintained Presided Set goals

Coordinated weekly office schedules for 8 employees

Trained 20+ new employees in customer service policies over a 2-year period

> The CBS Resume Guide provides an overview on contructing your resume.

> Want to see example skill statements from real CBS student resumes? View sample resumes.

> Meet with a CBS career coach for individualized feedback and support.