// resume power verbs
Another word for "worked" on a resume
"Worked" is the single most generic verb on a resume — it describes what every employed person does. It tells a recruiter you showed up, not what you built, drove, or delivered. Replacing it with a precise action verb and a result is one of the fastest ways to upgrade your resume.
Why "worked" weakens your resume
"Worked" carries no information about skill, ownership, or outcome. ATS software cannot match it to any specific competency listed in a job description, and hiring managers skip over it in a scan. Every bullet on a resume should tell the reader: what action you took, what scope you operated in, and what the result was. "Worked" satisfies none of those. Choose the verb that names what you actually did — Developed, Led, Delivered, Designed — then add a number.
22 stronger words for "worked"
Led
when you directed a team, project, or initiative
Built
when you created something from scratch — a product, team, or process
Developed
when you created or improved a system, tool, or capability
Delivered
when you produced a specific, tangible output on time
Executed
when you carried out a defined plan or process
Collaborated
when the work was genuinely co-equal with others
Partnered
when you worked alongside a counterpart as a peer
Operated
when you ran a specific tool, system, or process
Drove
when you owned a meaningful portion of the outcome
Implemented
when you put a plan, policy, or technology into practice
Managed
when you had direct ownership of people, budgets, or projects
Designed
when you created the structure, system, or concept
Launched
when you brought something new to market or into operation
Deployed
when you released or rolled out a system or product
Engineered
when you applied technical expertise to build or solve something
Produced
when you created a defined deliverable or content output
Contributed
when you made a defined addition to a larger team effort
Applied
when you used a specific skill or methodology to get a result
Researched
when your primary activity was gathering and analyzing information
Analyzed
when you interpreted data or findings to drive decisions
Negotiated
when you engaged external parties to reach agreements
Trained
when you taught skills or procedures to colleagues or clients
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Check my resume free →Before / after: bullets that drop "worked"
Worked on improving the company website.
✍️ Redesigned the company homepage and checkout flow, increasing conversion rate from 1.8% to 3.2% over six weeks.
Worked with the engineering team on new features.
✍️ Partnered with a team of 6 engineers to deliver a real-time notification system, reducing user-reported missed updates by 63%.
Worked in customer success.
✍️ Managed a portfolio of 45 enterprise accounts totaling $2.1M ARR, maintaining a 98% renewal rate over two consecutive years.
Frequently asked questions
Is "worked" a good resume word?
No. "Worked" is the weakest possible action verb because it applies to every job that has ever existed. Replace every instance with the verb that names your specific contribution — Led, Built, Delivered, Designed — and follow it with a result.
What can I say instead of "worked" on a resume?
The best replacement depends entirely on what you did. For creative or technical output, try Built or Designed. For driving results, try Delivered or Drove. For team coordination, try Led or Partnered. For project execution, try Implemented or Executed.
How can I find all the weak verbs on my resume quickly?
Run a free scan at atsgrader.com — it checks every verb, flags ATS keyword gaps, and identifies formatting issues, all inside your browser without uploading your file or creating an account.
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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