2025-2026 Purdue University Career Success Handbook

Power Verbs for Your Resume Bullets Formula - Skill Statements

POWER VERB (SKILL) + IDENTIFIABLE TASK + PURPOSE/METHOD/RESULT

Purpose (Why did you do it?) » Analyzed documentations and presented findings to hospital management team to develop a more efficient process to evaluate fall risk for patients . Method (How did you do it?) » Used a Python script to scrape, parse, and clean data from an online archive before inserting it to PostgreSQL database . Result (What happened because of what you did?) » Developed new ideas for Exelon’s efin and social media sites which increased traffic flow by 20% to company website and social media platforms .

The following lists are divided into categories to facilitate your ability to identify some great, active verbs to make your resume stand out. Keep the tenses consistent using past-tense verbs for previous experiences and present-tense verbs for current ones.

Syndicate Translate Transcribe

Attend Coordinate Convince Dispense Disseminate

Encourage Familiarize Form Foster Fulfill Implement Inform Interact Intervene Listen Litigate Mediate Motivate Negotiate Participate Partner Provide Recommend Reconcile Rehabilitate Represent Resolve Share Suggest

Working with People

Communication

Teaching/Advising

Circulate Clarify Collaborate Communicate Compose Demonstrate Document Edit Engage Entertain

Distribute Fundraise Influence Launch Lobby Persuade Publicize

Advise Correct Counsel Demonstrate Display Encourage Enlist Ensure

Publish Recruit Screen Sell Service Target

Grade Guide Influence Instruct Introduce Lecture Mentor Program Provide Rate Steer Suggest Support Teach Test

Exhibit Explain

Illustrate Interpret Interview Investigate Lecture Optimize Partner Perform Plan Present Promote Proofread Publicize Relate Relay Report Review Revise Summarize

Interpersonal Relations

Accommodate Adapt Anticipate Assure Bargain Care Coach Collaborate Confer Confront Consult Converse Cooperate

Administrative/ Management

Accelerate Accomplish Achieve Act Administer

Train Tutor

Public Relations

Allocate Approve Assign

Advertise Advocate

Critique Develop

28 Career Success

RESUMES