Action Verbs and Transferable Skills

In résumés and correspondence, active voice usually is more impressive, which means action verbs are noticeably more assertive and professional sounding.

Action verbs

Do you need stronger verbs for your experience descriptions? Avoid empty phrases such as "responsible for" and "duties include" and begin with a clear action verb.

A

Aided

Answered

Assisted

B

Budgeted

C

Coached

Collected

Completed

Composed

Counseled

Created

Critiqued

D

Delegated

Delivered

Designed

Detected

Developed

Diagnosed

Drafted

E

Edited

Enforced

Evaluated

Experimented

F

Filed

Formulated

G

Gathered

Generated

H

Helped

I

Implemented

Improved

Increased

Installed

Inventoried

L

Learned

M

Maintained

Manipulated

Mentored

O

Observed

Obtained

Operated

Ordered

Organized

P

Performed

Planned

Processed

Programmed

Proofread

R

Raised

Recruited

Repaired

Retrieved

Reviewed

S

Scheduled

Served

Studied

Supervised

Surveyed

T

Taught

Trained

Troubleshot

Tutored

U

Used

W

Washed


Transferable skills

Did you know that just by doing your classwork, you have gained skills that can transfer to your career? Transferable skills are skills that we gain in one capacity, such as in classes, volunteer experiences and employment, which transfer with us into other aspects of life. Transferable skills are not usually mastered quickly but rather take years to develop and master.

When reviewing your transferable skills, consider those skills that are most relevant to the employer and position for which you are applying.

Download a checklist of transferable skills