Here’s a list of the best verbs to use on a resume about communication.
Use these words in your examples and stories that show your expertise and experience too.
Best communication verbs to use on a resume for verbal and written communication and media
- adapt, adapting (adapted)
- address, addressing (adapted)
- answer, answering (answered)
- articulate, articulating (articulated)
- author, authoring (authored)
- brief, briefing (briefed)
- campaign, campaigning (campaigned)
- chair, chairing (chaired)
- charm, charming (charmed)
- co-author, co-authoring (co-authored)
- collaborate, collaborating (collaborated)
- comment, commenting (commented)
- communicate, communicating (communicated)
- compel, compelling (compelled)
- compose, composing (composed)
- consult, consulting (consulted)
- convey, conveying (conveyed)
- convince, convincing (convinced)
- correspond, corresponding (corresponded)
- counsel, counselling (counselled)
- craft, crafting (crafted)
- critique, critiquing (critiqued)
- define, defining (defined)
- describe, describing (described)
- document, documenting (documented)
- draft, drafting (drafted)
- edit, editing (edited)
- educate, educating (educated)
- enchant, enchanting (enchanted**- my favourite communication verb of all as it’s so rarely used!)
- facilitate, facilitating (facilitated)
- field, fielding (fielded)
- influence, influencing (influenced)
- inform, informing (informed)
- inspire, inspiring (inspired)
- introduce, introducing (introduced)
- illustrate, illustrating (illustrataed)
- liaise, liaising (liaised)
- lobby, lobbying (lobbied)
- magnetise, magnetising (magnetised)
- mediate, mediating (mediated)
- mentor, mentoring (mentored)
- motivate, motivating (motivated)
- negotiate, negotiating (negotiated)
- outline, outlining (outlined)
- pen, penning (penned)
- persuade, persuading (persuaded)
- present, presenting (presented)
- promote, promoting (promoted)
- propose, proposing (proposed)
- publicise, publicising (publicised)
- query, querying (queried)
- recommend, recommending (recommended)
- read, reading (read)
- report, reporting (reported)
- review, reviewing (reviewed)
- scribe, scribing (scribed)
- speak, speaking (spoke)
- write, writing (wrote)
Where to use verbs in present tense in a resume
Use these verbs in present tense in the TRANSFERABLE SKILLS section to show that you maintain currency in these skills.
It’s a subtle way to communicate to hiring managers and recruiters that these skills are valid and up-to-date.
Where to use verbs in past tense in a resume
Use these verbs in the past tense in the EMPLOYMENT AND WORK HISTORY section, KEY ACHIEVEMENTS, and CONCRETE ACCOMPLISHMENTS sections (words in brackets).
Past tense verbs show proof and evidence of your expertise and experience.
Image credits:
- Retro phones Nik on Unsplash
- Call me post it notes: Taylor Kidd on Unsplash
