Resume word bank

Resume synonyms for “Worked”

"Worked on" and "worked with" are the weakest openings a bullet can have — they state presence, not contribution. Replacing them forces the question every recruiter asks: what did you actually do to it?

10 stronger alternatives to “worked”

• Delivered — Use when the thing shipped and you were accountable for it.
• Built — Direct and concrete for anything you created hands-on.
• Developed — Fits software, programs, or materials you brought from idea to done.
• Executed — Right for carrying a defined plan through to completion.
• Owned — Modern, strong framing for end-to-end accountability.
• Collaborated with — Use when the cross-team relationship itself is the point.
• Partnered with — Best for sustained work with another team, vendor, or client as equals.
• Produced — Fits tangible output — reports, content, designs, events.
• Maintained — Honest fit for keeping an existing system healthy and current.
• Contributed to — Fair framing for a large shared effort where you owned a slice.

When to use “worked” (and when not to)

Cut "worked on" and start the bullet at your real verb: "built," "delivered," "executed." Keep "collaborated" or "partnered" only when the working relationship is the skill being demonstrated — cross-functional influence, client management — and even then, end with what the collaboration produced. A bullet that starts with "worked" almost always has its real verb hiding later in the sentence.

Before & after examples