Useful Vocabulary for Job Interviews and Résumés

During the job interviewing process its important to use verbs that precisely describe your duties and responsibilities at your present and past positions. The following list provides verbs that are both precise and commonly used in an English-speaking workplace. These verbs are used to express responsibilities and tasks performed throughout an applicants professional career.   Great Action Words  for Your Rà ©sumà © A Verb Example Sentence accomplished I've accomplished a lot in my current position. acted She's acted as head of the department. adapted I adapt to team working situations easily. administered I administered four committees. advanced I've advanced many new ideas. advised I advised management on purchasing decisions. allocated I allocated resources on a weekly basis. analyzed I analyzed financial data. applied I applied my knowledge to workflow. approved I approved new products for manufacturing. arbitrated I arbitrated for Fortune 500 companies. arranged I arranged meetings. assisted I assisted the CEO. attained I attained the highest level of certification. B-C Verb Example Sentence blended I blended traditional approaches with new insights. brought I brought a team player sensibility to the job. built We built more than 200 homes. carried out I carried out a wide range of duties. cataloged I cataloged our company's library. collaborated I've collaborated with more than fifty clients. completed I completed the highest level of the training. conceived I've conceived of numerous products. conducted I conducted telephone surveys. constructed I constructed prototypes for marketing. consulted I've consulted on a wide range of issues. contracted I've contracted with large and small businesses. controlled I controlled more than $40,000,000. cooperated I cooperated successfully on more than team projects. coordinated I coordinated between sales and marketing departments. corrected I edited and corrected company brochures. counseled I counseled clients on insurance policies. created I created more than twenty advertising campaigns. D-E Verb Example Sentence dealt I've dealt with a wide variety of issues. decided I've decided I need to further my career. decreased I decreased spending while improving profits. delegated I've delegated tasks on a number of projects. detected I detected a number of mistakes. developed I developed an invention. devised I devised a plan to improve profits. directed I directed the sales department. discovered I discovered the reason. distributed We distributed throughout the country. documented I documented company policies. doubled We doubled profits in only two years. edited I edited company communications. encouraged We encouraged research and development. engineered I engineered a wide range of applications. enlarged I enlarged our community outreach. escalated We escalated the problems to the director. established I established company guidelines. estimated I estimated future costs. evaluated I evaluated investment opportunities. examined I examined sites for pollution. expanded I expanded our sales to Canada. experienced We experienced difficulties meeting the deadline. explored We explored a wide range of possibilities. F-L Verb Example Sentence facilitated I facilitated an exchange of ideas between the companies. finalized I finalized projections for the year. formulated I formulated answers to the questions. founded I've founded two companies. functioned I functioned as a liaison between management and employees. guided I guided operations through the process. handled I handled customer complaints. headed I headed an exploratory committee. identified I identified issues and reported back to management. implemented I implemented company plans. improved I improved the feedback process. increased We increased sales by over 50%. initiated I initiated investments into the latest technology. inspected We inspected more than two hundred companies. installed I installed air-conditioning units. introduced We introduced innovate products. invented The company invented double-sided tape. investigated I investigated customer complaints. led I led the sales department to its best year. M-P Verb Example Sentence maintained I maintained the company database. managed I've managed more than five hundred employees. moderated I moderated negotiations between the two companies. negotiated I negotiated a better deal for the company. operated I've operated heavy machinery. organized I've organized many projects. performed I performed as company clerk. pioneered We pioneered new sound technologies. planned I planned company retreats. prepared I prepared documents for management. presented I presented at many conferences. programmed I programmed the company database. promoted I promoted employees in human resources. provided We provided feedback to management. purchased I purchased materials for the company. R-Z Verb Example Sentence recommended I recommended cutbacks at the company. recorded I recorded notes during meetings. recruited We recruited the best talent. redesigned I redesigned company workflow. repaired I repaired watches for a few years. replaced I replaced the director after only six months. restored I restored the company to profitability. reversed We reversed the trend and grew. reviewed I reviewed company documents and made recommendations. revised I revised figures at the end of each quarter. screened I screened applicants during job interviews. selected I selected employees and assigned tasks. serviced We serviced all the buses in the area. set up I set up four branches. stimulated I stimulated discussion between departments. strengthened We strengthened sales abroad. summarized I summarized complex ideas so everyone could understand. supervised I supervised two teams on the project. supported I supported management with research. tested I tested a number of devices in the field. trained I trained employees. transformed We transformed the company in a short time. upgraded We upgraded our IT infrastructure. validated I validated customer claims. Use these verbs to really sell yourself. You only have a few minutes to show how good you really are. Using this precise vocabulary and being confident can help you make the best impression possible.