70+ Best Synonyms for Experience to Improve Your Resume [With Examples]
Professional experience is the most important section of your resume. Based on this, a hiring manager evaluates your past performance and whether the company will benefit from hiring you. In this article, we will explore resume wording alternatives. It means we will check on diverse options of wording that can be used as synonyms for experience on resume.
When describing your experience, it is important to use specific examples, be concise and use effective language. Many job-seekers use cliches like responsible for and experienced in, and words like these can spoil the first impression your resume makes. On the flip side, using strong resume action verbs conveys your initiative and in-depth understanding of the company's processes.
In this post, we will share strong resume words that you can use to instantly strengthen your resume, make it more convincing and attract more attention from recruiters. Strong resume words for experience play an important role because you want to stand out rather than be one of many candidates with the same words. This article presents not only resume vocabulary improvement tips but also serves as a resume checklist.
Here is a list of resume power words that you can use for any career level and industry. These resume words for experience should be used throughout your document. If you need another word for experience on resume, just choose the relevant section below.
Action words for leadership
Did your job duties include managing the project, organizing the work of a group of people, replacing your boss while he was away, or orchestrating the company sales processes? Then, replace words like led and managed with these resume power words alternatives. These are the best resume words to replace experience description that sounds weak:
- Administered
- Coached
- Coordinated
- Directed
- Facilitated
- Headed
- Implemented
- Initiated
- Orchestrated
- Oversaw
- Spearheaded
- Streamlined
Power words for a team player
If the job posting requires strong teamwork skills, take advantage of these resume action verbs to prove your ability to cooperate effectively with others.
- Assisted
- Blended
- Co-authored
- Collaborated
- Joined
- Merged
- Participated
- Partnered
- Teamed (up)
- Volunteered
Resume action verbs for creativity
Designers, software engineers, illustrators, copywriters and other professionals who create new things or come up with inventive solutions can use these words in their resumes and cover letters:
- Authored
- Composed
- Conceptualized
- Designed
- Directed
- Edited
- Fashioned
- Illustrated
- Photographed
- Published
Power word list to describe achievements
To impress hiring managers, you need to include professional achievements next to job duties. Here are the power words that you can use in a resume summary or in a work history section to emphasize the significance of what you've accomplished:
- Accomplished
- Achieved
- Advanced
- Boosted
- Decreased
- Delivered
- Enhanced
- Generated
- Improved
- Increased
- Reduced
- Maximized
Action verbs for technical expertise
Are you an engineer, programmer, technical support representative, or other technical professional? The best tech resume examples use these power words to describe technical skills:
- Adapted
- Applied
- Built
- Calculated
- Computed
- Constructed
- Debugged
- Designed
- Engineered
- Installed
- Maintained
- Operated
- Programmed
- Solved
Research and analysis resume action words
If your job involves extensive research, analysis, calculations, and problem-solving, use these action words to convey relevant skills:
- Analyzed
- Audited
- Calculated
- Diagnosed
- Evaluated
- Inspected
- Investigated
- Researched
- Surveyed
- Tested
These action verbs or resume bullet point starters convey initiative and active contribution, so using them at the beginning of your bullet points will catch the attention of a recruiter. In addition to hard skills and expertise, they communicate the candidate's personal qualities - the ability to take initiative, business acumen, and strong written communication skills.
How to use action words effectively?
Now that you have plenty of power verbs for your resume, make sure that you are using them effectively and appropriately. This section outlines resume word choice tips and many describing experience examples. Thus, if you have no idea how to describe experience on your resume, this section will give you a wealth of information.
Avoid resume buzzwords
Buzzwords are overused resume words that irritate hiring managers. They do not say anything specific and sound like vague statements. The examples of buzzwords are: responsible for, experienced in, go-getter, leadership skills, and similar ones.
Moreover, it is difficult to accurately describe your experience using vague language. If your resume still has buzzwords, consider replacing them with action verbs suggested above. Here's an example:
- Bad: Responsible for accounts payable and financial reporting.
- Good: Achieved 100% accuracy of reported financial results of the company in six months.
Let's take a look at another example:
- Bad: "Dynamic, results-oriented professional with a proven track record of success."
- Good: "Led a cross-functional team of 10 to streamline operations, resulting in a 20% increase in process efficiency within six months."
Vary resume action words for better readability
Quite often, recruiters receive resumes where each bullet starts with managed or responsible for. Needless to say, the reader gets tired of repetitive language very fast. Plus, they can interpret your inabil
ity to use appropriate synonyms as a lack of written communication skills.
The solution? Alternate the resume power words and don't use any of them twice when describing one job. Above, we have suggested 70+ action verbs, so you can pick ones that best reflect your contribution. Active, powerful language not only describes you as a result-driven, proactive professional, but also helps create an engaging document.
- Bad example: "Was responsible for new client onboarding."
Why it's bad:
Uses a passive phrase ("was responsible for"), which is vague and less engaging. It lacks action, clarity, and results.
- Good example: "Developed and launched a new client onboarding system that reduced processing time by 30%."
Why it's good:
Uses a strong action word ("developed") and backs it up with a specific result, improving readability and impact.
Be specific
Using power words surely adds value to your resume. Yet, strong language alone is not sufficient to wow the hiring manager and land an interview. You need to impress them with measurable, specific contributions you've made in your previous roles.
Add context and details to your duties and achievements. Don't just write "Managed a team of 5 employees". Instead, say "Coordinated work of 5 software engineers on the development of mobile app solution". Employers love specifics, as your past performance helps them evaluate your potential and ensure that you'll be a good fit for the role.
- Bad example: "Helped improve sales and make the company more profitable."
Why it's bad:
This statement is vague, lacks quantifiable results, and doesnt show the scale or success of the achievement.
- Good example: "Increased monthly sales revenue by 25%, generating an additional $50,000 in quarterly profit."
Why it's good:
It uses specific metrics (25%, $50,000) to clearly demonstrate the scope and impact of your contribution.
If you have written a resume on your own, consider showing it to a professional resume writer or HR manager. An expert who works with resumes daily can critically evaluate your document and tell if it's strong enough to land an interview. Using the above resume vocabulary improvement tips is definitely a positive change for your resume, but knowing strong adjectives for work experience is not always enough. Sometimes you need an expert writer to help with words to describe professional experience is the best way possible.
At ResumePerk, we help all job-seekers by providing a FREE resume review service. Send us your resume, and the writer will respond you with a detailed evaluation. We will check the use of power words, achievements, structure, length and writing style, providing you with comprehensive feedback. Don't worry - all your personal data is confidential with us.
Feeling stuck? Get expert help
Using power words can give your resume a quality boost, emphasizing your contribution to previous employers and positioning you as a proactive candidate. If you are not sure about ordering resume writing help right now, you can ask for a free resume review and build a job-winning resume by yourself.
If you're not sure what action verbs to choose or need help describing your experience persuasively, we're here to assist. Work one-on-one with our resume writer who can prepare a strong resume, a customized cover letter, and other documents to help you land more interviews. Get your resume reviewed and start improving your resume today! Our services are very affordable!
Benefits of using our help:
- Polished, Error-Free Content - Experts correct grammar, punctuation, and formatting errors, ensuring your resume looks professional and is easy to read.
- Stronger Positioning and Clarity - Editors refine your wording to better showcase your achievements, responsibilities, and impact, making your value clear to hiring managers.
- Optimized for ATS and Keywords - Professional editors align your resume with current industry standards and include relevant keywords to pass applicant tracking systems (ATS).
FAQ:
What is another word for experienced on a resume?
Consider using terms like proficient, accomplished, or seasoned to replace experienced and make your resume more dynamic.
What is an excellent synonym to use on a resume?
Instead of excellent, try using top-performing, outstanding, or exceptional to highlight your achievements more powerfully.
What are the best resume words for skills?
Consider skill-focused words like project management, communication, leadership, and problem-solving to align with job descriptions.
What are resume buzzwords that actually grab attention?
Buzzwords like spearheaded, orchestrated, and implemented can grab attention, but avoid overusing generic phrases like a team player.
How to describe leadership skills on your resume?
Use leadership-focused terms such as managed, directed, led, and coordinated to show your ability to guide teams and projects.
What are the best words to describe your professional experience?
Use descriptive phrases like demonstrated success, delivered results, and exceeded goals to effectively showcase your professional experience.