// resume power verbs
Another word for "excited" on a resume or cover letter
"Excited" shows up constantly in cover letters and resume summaries — "I am excited to apply…" — and it reads as generic enthusiasm that any applicant could type. A more precise, professional word signals genuine motivation without sounding like a template, and pairing it with a concrete reason for your interest is what actually lands.
Why "excited" weakens your resume
"Excited" is emotional filler that tells the reader nothing specific. Hiring managers see "I am excited about this opportunity" on hundreds of applications, so it registers as a formality rather than real interest. The fix is twofold: choose a sharper word — "eager," "energized," "drawn to" — and immediately ground it in a concrete reason ("eager to apply my analytics background to your retention problem"). Specific motivation reads as authentic; bare excitement reads as a form letter.
20 stronger words for "excited"
Eager
for a professional, forward-leaning tone in a cover letter opener
Enthusiastic
when you want to convey energy in a skills or summary section
Motivated
to emphasize drive tied to a goal rather than mood
Energized
when the role or mission genuinely fires you up — back it with why
Passionate
for deep, long-standing interest in the field or mission
Keen
for a crisp, understated expression of strong interest
Driven
when persistence and ambition are the point, not feelings
Inspired
when a company's mission or product genuinely moved you to apply
Compelled
for a strong, reasoned pull toward the role or organization
Invested
to show commitment and stake rather than fleeting excitement
Committed
when you want to signal reliability and follow-through
Drawn to
for explaining a specific reason you are attracted to the role
Intrigued by
when a particular challenge or problem sparked your interest
Galvanized
for energy channeled into action — use with a concrete result
Dedicated
to stress sustained commitment over momentary enthusiasm
Ambitious
when the role aligns with clear, stated career goals
Engaged
to convey active, ongoing involvement and attention
Determined
when you want to project resolve toward a specific objective
Fascinated by
for genuine intellectual curiosity about the work or domain
Optimistic about
for a measured, positive outlook on contributing to a goal
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Check my resume free →Before / after: bullets that drop "excited"
I am excited to apply for the marketing coordinator role.
✍️ I am eager to bring my three years of B2B campaign experience to your demand-gen team, where I can build on the 40% MQL growth I drove at my last role.
Excited about the opportunity to work at your company.
✍️ Drawn to your mission of cutting hospital readmissions — the exact problem I reduced by 18% as a care-coordination analyst.
Excited team player looking for new challenges.
✍️ Energized by ambiguous, fast-moving problems — shipped three zero-to-one features in my first year at a seed-stage startup.
Frequently asked questions
Should I say "excited" on a resume or cover letter?
It is weak on its own because it is generic and unverifiable — every applicant writes it. Swap it for a sharper word like "eager," "drawn to," or "energized," and immediately attach a concrete reason for your interest. Specific motivation reads as genuine; bare excitement reads like a template.
What is a more professional word for "excited"?
Use "eager," "enthusiastic," "energized," "keen," "drawn to," or "motivated," depending on tone. In a cover letter, the strongest move is "eager to apply [specific skill] to [their specific problem]" rather than a free-floating statement of excitement.
Can your free tool check my resume language for weak words?
Yes. Run a free in-browser scan at atsgrader.com — paste your resume text and nothing leaves your device. The checker flags filler and weak phrasing and scores your resume instantly. A full detailed breakdown is available for a one-time $9 purchase.
Keep improving your resume
- What an ATS is and how it works
- The ATS-friendly resume template
- How ATS keyword matching works
- The ATS-friendly resume format
- Why resumes get rejected by ATS
- Free ATS checker with no signup
Weak verbs dragging your bullets down? Swap them using stronger resume action verbs.
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