Consider the following action verbs you can use to describe your skills in a work setting. The verbs have been categorized under specific skill areas for your convenience. Remember to back up your experience with statistics, quantities, or concrete examples whenever possible. Giving concrete details makes your experience sound even stronger.

Communication & Instructional Skills (The ability to speak and write clearly; to listen and answer questions with perception; to be open-minded and accepting of differing opinions; to convey and express ideas effectively.)

Apprised Answered Conducted Contacted Demonstrated Drafted

Educated Explained Familiarized Handled Informed Instructed

Presented Reported Represented Responded Spoke Summarized

Taught Trained Translated Wrote

Management & Leadership Skills (The ability to make decisions; to coordinate groups of people; to motivate and supervise others; to handle a variety of tasks and responsibilities simultaneously; to negotiate, review, and evaluate.)

Allocated Developed Directed Elected Enlisted

Founded Governed Hired Initiated Inspired

Instituted Managed Oversaw Pioneered Produced

Recruited Represented Spearheaded Sponsored Supervised

Creative Skills (The ability to be expressive and imaginative; to deal artistically with color; to design and devise new ways of doing or making things; to be innovative.)

Adapted Authored Conceived Conceptualized

Created Composed Designed Devised

Edited Established Generated Invented

Originated Published Revolutionized Wrote

Organizational Skills (The ability to be systematic and efficient; to schedule and coordinate events; to arrange tasks and time frames; to provide excellent follow-up in planning.)

Arranged Assembled Collected Centralized Coordinated Catalogued

Distributed Disseminated Enforced Executed Formalized Implemented

Installed Maintained Organized Planned Prepared Processed

Routed Recorded Reorganized Scheduled Update

Helping Skills (The ability to show sensitivity to another’s feelings; to offer support; to advise or provide guidance; to help others make decisions; to give insight.)

Aided Advised Advocated Attended Assisted

Collaborated Comforted Contributed Counseled Facilitated

Fostered Guided Helped Mediated Mentored

Provided Settled Supported Tutored

Analytical Skills (The ability to research and gather pertinent information; to diagnose and solve a problem; to retrace problems to their source; to clarify problems and situations; to provide constructive criticism.)

Analyzed Assessed Audited Compiled Consulted

Detected Discerned Discovered Documented Edited

Evaluated Examined Gathered Identified Interpreted

Interviewed Researched Searched Surveyed Tested

Selling Skills (The ability to influence and persuade other people; to promote certain things or ideas; to convince; to make something acceptable; to transfer goods in exchange for money.)

Arbitrated Encouraged Increased

Marketed Negotiated Persuaded

Promoted Publicized Resolved

Secured Sold Solicited

Updated by AW 9/5/06; please notify Career Development Center if you experience any technical problems.