The most effective resumes and cover letters illustrate transferable skills and experiences described in words chosen to convey action. Action words enable the potential employer to better picture your experience, envision its context, and see the benefits of what you have to offer. Avoid using the same action word more than once per document. Below are some examples separated by category:
ORGANIZATION

LEADERSHIP

COMMUNICATION

Administered
Advised
Allocated
Allowed
Appointed
Approved
Assigned
Authorized
Chaired
Delegated
Designated
Educated
Elicited
Employed
Empowered
Enabled
Encouraged
Endorsed
Enforced
Enhanced
Established
Evaluated
Executed
Facilitated

Organized
Arranged
Addressed
Lectured
Catalogued Oriented
Advertised
Marketed
Categorized Planned
Apprised
Mediated
Centralized Prepared
Arbitrated
Negotiated
Prioritized
Charted
Attested
Officiated
Processed
Classified
Authored
Persuaded
Provided
Coded
Clarified
Presented
Recorded
Compiled
Communicated Promoted
Regulated
Correlated
Composed
Publicized
Reviewed
Distributed
Condensed
Queried
Scheduled
Contacted
Recommended Filed
Sorted
Generated
Convinced
Reconciled
Submitted
Indexed
Corresponded Referred
Standardized
Linked
Counseled
Reported
Maintained Tabulated
Defined
Responded
Orchestrated Updated
Drafted
Spoke
Edited
Suggested
Explained
Summarized
RESEARCH
Expressed
Synthesized
Informed
Translated
Analyzed
Gathered
Interpreted
Wrote
Ascertained
Identified
Interviewed
Assessed
Integrated
Collected
Invented
Compared
Investigated
TECHNICAL
Computed
Justified
Assembled
Installed
Conceptualized Located
Built
Operated
Concluded
Measured
Computed
Programmed
Conducted
Prescribed
Conserved
Specialized
Confirmed
Prioritized
Constructed Upgraded
Critiqued
Projected
Developed
Deciphered
Rated
Deliberated
Researched
FINANCIAL
Determined
Reviewed
Devised
Scrutinized
Appraised
Estimated
Diagnosed
Solved
Audited
Marketed
Estimated
Studied
Balanced
Purchased
Evaluated
Substantiated
Budgeted
Projected
Examined
Surveyed
Calculated
Reduced
Extracted
Systemized
Computed
Forecasted
Tested
Formulated
Validated

Fostered
Guided
Headed
Hired
Improved
Incorporated
Increased
Influenced
Instructed
Instituted
Judged
Led
Managed
Moderated
Motivated
Oversaw
Presided
Recommended
Recruited
Sanctioned
Scheduled
Strengthened
Supervised