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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.