I rewrote my resume four times before I realised the problem wasn’t what I’d done. It was how I was describing it. My original resume was full of phrases like “responsible for” and “duties included” and “involved in.” It read like a job description, not proof that I could actually do anything useful.
Then I spent two hours Googling “power verbs for resumes” and found lists with 500+ words like “orchestrated” and “spearheaded” and “synergised.” I stuffed them into my resume and sent it off feeling confident. Still got rejected.
Here’s what I learned after landing a frontend developer internship at Kulaa and helping dozens of mates fix their resumes: power verbs and phrases for Australian resumes only work if they’re believable, specific, and matched to the job you’re applying for. Using fancy words for basic tasks makes you look desperate or dishonest. Using the right words for real achievements makes you look competent.
So here’s exactly which verbs and phrases actually work on Australian resumes, based on what got me interviews and what didn’t.
Why Most “Power Verb” Lists Are Useless
Every resume guide tells you to use action verbs. They’re not wrong. But most lists throw 300 words at you with no context about when to use them or which ones Australian recruiters actually care about.
I tried using “orchestrated” to describe organising a team meeting. I used “spearheaded” for starting a small project at uni. I wrote that I “leveraged” my technical skills. All of it sounded ridiculous because I was using executive-level language for entry-level work.
Australian recruiters aren’t stupid. They can tell when you’re overselling. If you’re applying for a casual retail job and claim you “spearheaded customer engagement initiatives,” they’ll roll their eyes and move on. But if you write that you “served 50+ customers daily during peak hours while maintaining stock levels,” that’s believable and impressive.
The best power verbs and phrases for Australian resumes are the ones that accurately describe what you did while making it sound active and results-focused. Not fancy, just clear and confident.
The Basic Rules for Using Action Verbs
Start every bullet point with a verb. Not “was responsible for,” not “my duties included,” just the verb. This immediately makes your resume more direct and easier to scan.
Compare these:
❌ “Was responsible for managing social media accounts”
✅ “Managed social media accounts for 3 clients”
The second version cuts the filler and adds a number. That’s the formula. Verb + what you did + quantifiable result or context.
Use past tense for previous jobs and present tense for your current role. I still see students mixing tenses randomly, which just looks sloppy. If the job ended, use past tense. If you’re still doing it, use present tense. Simple.
Match the strength of your verb to the level of your actual achievement. If you helped with something, say “assisted” or “supported.” If you led it, say “led” or “managed.” Don’t claim you “directed” a project when you were one of five team members doing equal work.
I’ve written more about basic resume formatting in my Australian-style resume guide, but honestly, getting the verbs right solves half your problems.
Power Verbs for Casual and Entry-Level Jobs
These are the verbs that work when you’re applying for retail, hospitality, warehouse, or other student jobs. They’re not flashy, but they’re credible.
For customer service roles:
- Served, assisted, helped, answered, resolved, processed, handled, greeted, advised, supported
For physical or operational work:
- Stocked, sorted, packed, loaded, unloaded, operated, assembled, cleaned, prepared, organised
For any role with responsibility:
- Maintained, managed, monitored, updated, recorded, tracked, ensured, followed, completed, achieved
Here’s how I used these on my resume when applying for casual work:
“Served 40+ customers daily in busy café environment while maintaining accurate cash handling and processing orders efficiently”
Notice I didn’t say I “optimised customer satisfaction metrics” or “streamlined point-of-sale operations.” I just described what I actually did using clear, active language. That’s enough.
If you’re writing a resume for retail or hospitality work, check my guide on how to write a retail resume with no local experience. The verbs matter less than being specific about what you can do.
Power Verbs for Technical and IT Roles
This is where you can use slightly more sophisticated language because the work itself is more complex. But you still need to be specific about what you actually built, fixed, or improved.
For development and technical work:
- Developed, built, created, designed, implemented, integrated, configured, deployed, maintained, debugged
For problem-solving and analysis:
- Analysed, identified, resolved, troubleshot, optimised, improved, reduced, enhanced, streamlined, automated
For project and team work:
- Collaborated, coordinated, contributed, delivered, led, managed, documented, presented, reviewed, tested
Here’s how I describe my work at Kulaa on my resume:
“Led migration from React+Vite to React+Next.js to enable proper SEO implementation, coordinating with backend team on API integration and implementing schema markup for international search strategy”
I could have written “responsible for leading the migration process.” But starting with “led” is stronger. I could have said I “orchestrated cross-functional collaboration.” But “coordinating with backend team” is clearer and more honest.
For IT students, I’ve got a detailed template in my IT resume guide that shows exactly which verbs work for different technical roles.
Power Verbs That Make You Sound Junior (Avoid These)
Some verbs are technically accurate but make you sound inexperienced or passive. I used these on my first resume and wondered why I wasn’t getting callbacks.
Weak verbs to avoid:
- Helped (use “assisted” or “supported” instead, or better yet, say what you specifically did)
- Was responsible for (just start with what you did: “managed” or “handled”)
- Worked on (use “developed,” “built,” “contributed to” depending on your actual role)
- Involved in (too vague, be specific about your contribution)
- Participated in (same problem, say what you actually did)
The issue isn’t that these words are wrong. It’s that they’re passive and vague. They don’t tell recruiters what you actually contributed or achieved.
Compare:
❌ “Helped with website redesign project”
✅ “Designed and implemented responsive navigation component for website redesign”
The second version shows exactly what you did. It’s not about using fancier words, it’s about being specific and active.
Phrases That Add Context and Impact
Sometimes a single verb isn’t enough. You need a phrase that shows the scale, complexity, or result of your work. These are the phrases I use most often.
For showing scale:
- “Managed team of X people”
- “Served 50+ customers daily”
- “Processed 200+ orders per shift”
- “Maintained inventory of 500+ products”
For showing improvement:
- “Reduced processing time by X%”
- “Improved customer satisfaction ratings”
- “Increased efficiency through automation”
- “Decreased errors by implementing quality checks”
For showing responsibility:
- “While maintaining accuracy and quality”
- “During peak business periods”
- “Under tight deadlines”
- “With minimal supervision”
Here’s how these work together:
“Processed 150+ customer orders daily during peak holiday season while maintaining 99% accuracy rate and handling cash transactions up to $5,000 per shift”
That’s a retail job description, but it sounds impressive because it’s specific and uses concrete numbers. The verbs are basic (“processed,” “maintaining,” “handling”), but the context makes them powerful.
I’ve covered more examples in my resume checklist that you can download and use as a reference.
Industry-Specific Verbs That Show You Know the Field
Different industries have their own language. Using the right verbs shows you understand the work culture and expectations.
For hospitality and customer service:
- Delivered, prepared, served, presented, welcomed, accommodated, ensured, upheld, maintained
For warehouse and logistics:
- Loaded, transported, organised, inventoried, inspected, verified, dispatched, received, stored
For admin and coordination:
- Scheduled, coordinated, organised, arranged, communicated, documented, filed, updated, tracked
For creative or content work:
- Created, designed, produced, wrote, edited, published, developed, curated, managed
When I’m applying for frontend development roles, I use “implemented” and “integrated” because those are standard in tech. When I’m describing my content work for knowworldnow.com, I use “created” and “published” because that’s how content people talk.
Don’t force industry jargon if you don’t know it well. But if you’re applying in your field, use the verbs that people in that industry actually use. It shows you’re not just sending generic applications.
The Numbers Game (Quantifying Your Achievements)
Here’s the secret that matters more than which verbs you use: numbers make everything more convincing. A weak verb with a specific number beats a fancy verb with no context.
Compare these:
- “Orchestrated social media strategy” (sounds fake)
- “Posted 15+ articles monthly across platforms” (sounds real)
I always try to add numbers to at least half my bullet points. It doesn’t matter if the numbers are huge. Even small, specific details make you sound credible.
Numbers you can include:
- How many (customers served, articles written, products managed)
- How much (revenue, budget, cost savings)
- How often (daily, weekly, per shift)
- How long (project duration, employment length)
- Percentages (improvement, accuracy, completion rates)
When I describe my SEO work, I write: “Created 200+ SEO-optimised articles generating 50,000+ monthly visitors.” Those numbers prove I did substantial work. Without them, “created SEO-optimised articles” means nothing.
If you genuinely don’t have numbers for a role, focus on specific tasks or results instead. “Resolved customer complaints effectively” is vague. “Resolved an average of 5 customer complaints per shift, resulting in positive feedback” is much better.
Verbs to Use Sparingly (They’re Not Bad, Just Overused)
Some power verbs appear on every list, and Australian recruiters are sick of seeing them. They’re not wrong to use, but they’ve lost impact through overuse.
Overused verbs:
- Achieved (everyone claims they “achieved results,” be specific instead)
- Utilised (just say “used” unless it’s genuinely technical)
- Facilitated (often used when you didn’t actually lead, be honest)
- Leveraged (tech bros love this word, most recruiters hate it)
- Championed (sounds corporate and fake)
I’m not saying never use these. But if you find yourself writing “utilised advanced Excel techniques to facilitate data analysis and leverage insights,” you’ve gone too far. That should be “analysed data using Excel and identified cost-saving opportunities.”
Simpler language works better in Australia. We’re not as corporate as the US. Recruiters here prefer straightforward communication over business speak.
How to Actually Write Better Bullet Points
Let me show you my exact process for turning weak resume bullets into strong ones. I do this every time I update my resume or help someone else fix theirs.
Step 1: Start with the basic fact “I worked on the website”
Step 2: Make it active with a specific verb “Developed features for the website”
Step 3: Add context about what specifically “Developed responsive navigation component for the website”
Step 4: Add results or scale “Developed responsive navigation component used across 10+ pages, improving mobile user experience”
See how each step makes it stronger? The final version uses “developed” (clear, technical), specifies what you built (navigation component), quantifies impact (10+ pages), and explains the benefit (improved mobile experience).
I walk through this process in detail in my guide on tailoring your resume for different jobs, but the principle is always the same. Be specific, be active, add numbers where possible.
Common Mistakes With Power Verbs
I made all these mistakes on my early resumes. Learn from my failures.
Using multiple verbs for the same point. Don’t write “managed and coordinated and oversaw.” Pick one strong verb. If you managed something, you probably also coordinated it. Say “managed” and move on.
Starting every bullet with the same verb. I once had a resume where five bullets in a row started with “developed.” It looked lazy. Vary your verbs even if you did similar work.
Using verbs that don’t match your actual role. If you were a team member, don’t say you “directed” the project. If you helped occasionally, don’t say you “managed” it. Interviewers will ask for details and you’ll look dishonest.
Forcing verbs that sound unnatural. “Synergised with team members” sounds ridiculous. “Collaborated with team members” sounds normal. When in doubt, use the simpler word.
Ignoring Australian spelling and phrasing. Use “organised” not “organized.” Use “analyse” not “analyze.” This matters more than you think. Australian recruiters notice American spelling and it can make your resume feel generic or copied.
I’ve got a whole post about common resume mistakes international students make that covers more of these issues.
The Real Secret: Matching Verbs to Job Descriptions
Here’s what actually works better than memorising verb lists. Read the job description carefully. Notice which verbs they use. Mirror those verbs in your resume where honest.
If the job ad says “seeking someone to manage inventory and process orders,” use “managed” and “processed” in your bullet points (if you actually did those things). If they say “looking for a developer to build and deploy features,” use “built” and “deployed” in your experience section.
This isn’t about gaming the system. It’s about speaking the same language as the employer. If they care about “collaboration,” use “collaborated.” If they want someone who can “analyse data,” use “analysed” in your description of relevant work.
I rewrite parts of my resume for every application, adjusting verbs and phrases to match what each employer is looking for. Takes 10 minutes and doubles my callback rate compared to sending the same generic resume everywhere.
Examples From Real Resumes (Good vs Bad)
Let me show you actual before and after examples from resumes I’ve helped fix.
Bad version (warehouse job): “Was responsible for picking and packing orders in warehouse environment”
Good version: “Picked and packed 100+ orders daily with 99% accuracy while maintaining organised workspace and meeting tight shipping deadlines”
Bad version (IT internship): “Worked on frontend development using React and helped with various projects”
Good version: “Developed reusable React components for customer dashboard, reducing code duplication by 30% and improving page load times”
Bad version (content writing): “Responsible for creating content for website and managing social media”
Good version: “Created 50+ SEO-optimised blog posts and managed WordPress site generating 20,000+ monthly visitors across technology and education niches”
Notice the pattern? The good versions start with strong verbs, add specific details, and include numbers. They’re not using fancier words, they’re using clearer language and better structure.
You can see more examples in my warehouse resume template and IT resume guide.
When Simple Verbs Beat Power Verbs
Sometimes the simplest verb is the best choice. Don’t upgrade to a “power verb” just because it sounds more impressive if it makes your sentence awkward or unclear.
I write “built a website” not “architected a web solution.” I write “fixed bugs” not “remediated software defects.” The first versions in each case are clearer and sound more natural.
Australian recruiters appreciate straightforward communication. If you’re torn between a simple verb that’s clear and a fancy verb that sounds professional, choose clear every time. Especially for casual and entry-level roles where overselling makes you look out of touch.
Remember, your resume isn’t trying to win a writing prize. It’s trying to convince someone you can do the job. Clear beats clever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use the same power verbs for casual jobs as professional jobs?
No. For casual retail, hospitality, or warehouse roles, stick to straightforward verbs like “served,” “processed,” “stocked,” and “maintained.” For professional IT or office jobs, you can use more technical language like “developed,” “implemented,” “analysed,” and “coordinated.” Match your language to the job level you’re applying for.
How many different action verbs should I use on my resume?
Aim for variety but don’t force it. If you have 10 bullet points across all your jobs, try to use at least 7-8 different verbs. It’s fine to repeat common ones like “managed” or “developed” if they accurately describe multiple roles, just don’t start every single point with the same word.
Can I use “led” or “managed” if I wasn’t the official leader?
Only if you genuinely led specific tasks or initiatives. If you coordinated meeting schedules for a group project, “coordinated” is accurate. If you made key decisions and others followed your direction, “led” might work. But if you were just one equal team member, use “contributed to” or “collaborated on” instead. Don’t exaggerate your role.
Is it better to use “created” or “developed” for technical work?
Both work, but “developed” sounds slightly more technical and professional. I use “created” for content, designs, or simpler outputs. I use “developed” for software, technical solutions, or complex systems. If you’re unsure which fits better, check the job description and see which verb they use.
Do Australian recruiters really care about which verbs I use?
Not as much as they care about whether your resume clearly shows what you’ve done and achieved. The verbs matter because they make your resume easier to scan and more active, but they won’t save a resume that’s vague or poorly structured. Focus on being specific and results-focused first, then optimise your verbs second.
Should I update old resumes to use better power verbs?
If your current resume isn’t getting you interviews, yes. Spend an hour rewriting your bullet points to start with strong verbs, add numbers, and be more specific. But if your resume is already working reasonably well, don’t stress too much about upgrading every single verb. Focus on new applications instead.
Final Thoughts
Learning to use power verbs and phrases for Australian resumes properly isn’t about memorising fancy vocabulary. It’s about describing your actual work in clear, active language that makes recruiters think “this person can do the job.”
Start every bullet point with a verb. Add specific details and numbers. Match your language to the job level and industry. Don’t oversell or use corporate jargon for entry-level work. That’s it.
I still spend 10 minutes before every application checking my verbs and adjusting them to match the job description. It’s not about gaming the system, it’s about making sure recruiters immediately see the connection between what I’ve done and what they need.
If you’re still working on your resume, check out my complete Australian resume guide and my resume checklist. And if you need help with cover letters too, I’ve written guides for casual jobs with real examples of good and bad cover letters.
The power verbs and phrases for Australian resumes that actually work are the ones that honestly and clearly describe what you can do. Use them well, and you’ll get more interviews. I promise.
