Want another word for Create to use on your resume? Our team's compiled the most effective action verbs and synonyms you can use instead of the overused resume phrase, "Create".
In a world where every job description is looking for someone who can think outside the box, being able to 'create' is a huge asset. The word 'create' describes a person who has the drive and ambition to go beyond what's expected of them. It shows that you're a forward-thinker who can look at problems from multiple angles, making you an invaluable asset to any team.
Create is a powerful word with a strong meaning but can also be overused. While you want your resume to show how creative and innovative you are, you don't want to overdo it. Furthermore, you should write your resume in the past tense; 'created' is preferable to 'create,' which suggests a current responsibility.
By using a few other words or synonyms to describe your creative abilities, you avoid overstating it. For example, instead of saying, 'I created an ad campaign,' you could say, 'I conceptualized an ad campaign.'
Using synonyms cleverly in your resume adds depth and nuance to it. It allows you, for example, to use different words that mean the same thing to describe your past accomplishments and make what you're saying more attractive to the recruiters.
I've compiled some synonyms you can use instead of Create on your resume, followed by real examples I've written for clients (feel free to use them!).
Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase, Create, with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.
Before: Weak example using Create• Created pricing and branding strategies for the team
After: Using a stronger synonym • Devised a pricing and branding strategy with the Strategy team to launch a new three-tier pricing model; the team achieved a 27% increase in profit versus the previous quarter.
• Created marketing plans.
After: Formulated • Formulated comprehensive marketing plans, incorporating social media strategies that generated a 35% increase in online engagement within 6 months for a start-up e-commerce brand.
In this revision, I replaced 'create' with a more descriptive verb 'Formulated.' I also augmented impact by detailing the utilization of social media strategies, stating the type of company and time-frame, and quantifying the achieved result.
Tip: I've prepared a ton of additional examples for you to give you inspiration. Please click on any of the following to expand and see real examples of how I've rewritten client bullet points.
• Created educational pathways for students.
After: Carved • Carved out personalized educational pathways for 150 students in an urban school district, improving student engagement and academic performance by 40%.
In this improved statement, the action verb 'Carved' replaces 'Created' for a stronger impact. Also, the statement now carries more specificity in terms of the target population and the result of the action.
• Created a strategy to cut down production costs.
After: Purposed • Purposed a succinct strategy that directly led to a 15% decrease in production costs in under six months by optimizing manufacturing processes at XYZ Inc.
Replacing 'Created' with 'Purposed' gave a sense of direction to the accomplishment. Specific details about the company, the percentage decrease in production costs, and the operational improvements make the statement impactful.
• Created a new purchasing system.
After: Engineered • Engineered a streamlined online purchasing system for an e-commerce company, resulting in a 25% increase in customer satisfaction and a 10% boost in sales within the first quarter.
By using 'Engineered,' it implies an amalgamation of analysis, design, and creation, thus giving more depth to the task accomplished. Adding measurable results enhances the candidate's positive impact.
• Created staff training programs.
After: Spearheaded • Spearheaded the development and implementation of new staff training programs, resulting in a 50% reduction in the on-boarding time whilst increasing staff performance by 20%.
The term 'Spearheaded' shows leadership and initiative, replacing the standard 'Created'. Providing numbers related to on-boarding time reduction and improvement in performance quantifies the accomplishment.
• Created new product ideas.
After: Synthesized • Synthesized customer feedback and current market trends to conceptualize and develop five innovative product lines that increased market share by 15%.
Replacing 'Created' with 'Synthesized' emphasizes critical thinking skills. The new statement also includes the method, a specific number of product lines, and the measurable increased market share.
• Created a risk assessment model.
After: Pioneered • Pioneered a novel risk assessment model for Bank XYZ, decreasing bad debt by 30% within the first year.
The term 'Pioneered' conveys an image of leadership and innovation. The revision includes the type of company, and quantifies the performance improvements adding much-needed specifics.
• Created future business strategies.
After: Mapped • Mapped out robust business strategies for a Fintech startup, leading to a YoY growth of 40% and attracting $2M in Series A funding.
By replacing 'Created' with 'Mapped,' the accomplishment portrays the candidate's ability to plan and strategize. Quantifiable results and additional funding achieved add a strong impact.
We've put together an infographic to give you more examples of how to put this into practice. Note the use of strong action verbs instead of words like Create.
• Delivered product solutions to institutional and corporate clients; grew customer base by +25% in Europe.
• Assessed the product portfolio and created a brand turnaround strategy for a global fashion company; conducted qualitative interviews with industry experts and quantitative analysis to determine barriers to purchasing and distribution.
• Performed financial analysis to evaluate public and private financing alternatives to strengthen client's balance sheet.
• Led five developers to establish client's ERP system; identified $1.5MM in cost savings, and secured $1MM+ in additional work for Accenture.
• Analyzed private equity firm's historical track record, evaluated performance against public indexes, and validated claims with investors and CEOs, resulting in commitments in excess of $300MM.
• Created economic model to assess financial feasibility and operational synergies throughout the supply chain; identified >$50M in savings.
