Resume action verbs for Spanish speakers: a list by field and how to use them

Published October 12, 2026 · 5 min read · Leer en español

On a US-style résumé, each experience bullet usually starts with a past-tense verb: Led, Reduced, Built. Harvard's résumé guide asks for language that is "active rather than passive" and lists passive language among the five most common résumé mistakes. Here is a list by field, a formula for each bullet and the mistakes we see most often when people translate from Spanish.

1. Why start with a verb

Harvard's Mignone Center for Career Success recommends résumé language that is specific, active, fact-based and written for people and systems that scan quickly. It also says not to use personal pronouns (I, We). So instead of "I was responsible for sales", write:

Fictional example. The verb says what you did; the rest shows the scope.

2. A simple bullet formula

Past-tense verb + what you did + result or scope. If you have a real number (amount, time, percentage), use it. If you don't, don't make one up: describe the scope instead (how many people, which tool, for whom).

• ✕ Responsible for the monthly close.
• ✓ Prepared the monthly close for three business units using SAP.
• ✓ Reduced invoice errors by reviewing each batch before submission.

Use present tense for your current job (Manage, Lead) and past tense for previous ones.

3. Action verbs by field

A selection from the action verb list in Harvard's guide, grouped by common job types:

Field	Verbs
Leadership and management	Led, Supervised, Coordinated, Delegated, Directed, Oversaw, Planned, Prioritized, Reorganized, Spearheaded
Communication and sales	Negotiated, Presented, Persuaded, Collaborated, Drafted, Edited, Translated, Promoted, Recruited, Sold
Analysis and finance	Analyzed, Audited, Budgeted, Calculated, Forecasted, Reconciled, Evaluated, Identified, Investigated, Summarized
Technology	Built, Designed, Engineered, Installed, Maintained, Optimized, Programmed, Repaired, Streamlined, Upgraded
Teaching and customer support	Advised, Assisted, Coached, Guided, Trained, Instructed, Supported, Served, Facilitated, Resolved
Organization and operations	Implemented, Launched, Monitored, Processed, Purchased, Reduced, Scheduled, Simplified, Standardized, Updated

Tip: avoid repeating the same verb in consecutive bullets, and pick the verb that describes what you actually did, not the one that sounds most impressive.

4. Common mistakes when translating from Spanish

• "Encargado de…" → In charge of…: not wrong, but weak. Use the specific verb: Managed, Supervised, Prepared.
• "Realicé" → Realized: a false friend. Realize means "to become aware". Use Carried out, Conducted or, better, the specific verb.
• Supported on every bullet: if you did the task, say so (Prepared, Processed). If you helped, Assisted is honest.
• Mixing tenses within the same job.
• Overstating: Spearheaded or Orchestrated for a support task. You may be asked to explain it in an interview.

5. Verbs vs. keywords

Verbs structure your achievements; keywords (tools, tasks, certifications) connect your résumé to the job ad. You need both. To see which words from a job ad are missing from your résumé, try our free ATS check (the interface is in Spanish, but it works with English text).

Sources

• Harvard FAS Mignone Center for Career Success, Harvard College Guide to Creating a Strong Resume, sections "Resume language", "Top five resume mistakes" and "Action Verbs" (accessed Oct 12, 2026).