Want another word for Manage 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, "Manage".
To show that you have organizational skills and can make decisions on behalf of the company, the word 'Manage' is an efficient way to convey this information. Hiring managers look favorably at candidates who can take responsibility and keep things under control, qualities that this word denotes.
But using power verbs like manage is not enough to give your resume an edge. If you're using the same word over and over again, it can be distracting to the reader—so you want to avoid that by using synonyms. Using the past tense of manage is also advisable unless you are talking about a current project or role.
To make your resume more interesting to read, use other words for manage, such as 'assigned,' 'empowered,' or 'supervised.' For example, rather than saying, 'I managed a team of fifteen people,' you could say, 'I supervised a team of fifteen people.'
Using synonyms adds some spice to your resume and keeps it fresh, so recruiters will keep reading even if they've seen thousands of other resumes before yours.
I've compiled some synonyms you can use instead of Manage 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, Manage, with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.
Before: Weak example using Manage• Manage a team of four to redesign global customer onboarding and sales process for an insurance client
After: Using a stronger synonym • Supervised a team of four to redesign global customer onboarding and sales process for an insurance client, leading to synchronized on-boarding and a 15% increase in cross-selling opportunities across divisions .
• Manage global supply chain to meet demand
After: Mobilized • Mobilized global supply chain resulting in 25% decrease in delivery times and leading to a 15% increase in customer satisfaction.
The before statement lacks detail on the impact their mange role had on the operation. By changing 'Manage' to 'Mobilized' and adding specific metrics we create a stronger statement that demonstrates effective action.
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.
• Manage operational efficiency
After: Maximized • Maximized operational efficiency, saving the company $1.2 million annually by streamlining processes and reducing waste.
The revised version gives specific data which quantifies the outcome of the candidate’s work, showing the recruiter their impactful contributions.
• Manage annual fundraising event
After: Spearheaded • Spearheaded annual fundraising event which brought in over $500K for the organization, a 30% increase from previous years.
Substituting 'Manage' with 'Spearheaded' suggests leadership and initiative. Quantifying the results highlights the candidate's effectiveness in the task.
• Manage customer service team
After: Catalyzed • Catalyzed customer service team, increasing customer fulfillment by 40% and winning the regional customer service excellence award.
‘Catalyzed’ is an action verb which speaks to a process of change or transformation. The added metrics quantifies the impact on their team’s performance.
• Manage software development projects
After: Engineered • Engineered software development projects resulting in a 20% reduction in production time and 25% increase in ROI.
The term 'Engineered' suggests hands-on involvement and strategic planning. The numbers emphasize the success of the projects under the candidate's leadership.
• Manage multiple data sources
After: Consolidated • Consolidated multiple data sources, boosting report accuracy by 30% and creating a more efficient system of accessing information.
'Manage' is too vague to illustrate the merits of the candidate's work, whereas 'Consolidated' better illustrates the transformative nature of the task, emphasizing on efficiency and accuracy.
• Manage sales team
After: Energized • Energized the sales team, driving a 18% increase in quarterly revenue and leading to every team member exceeding their individual sales goals.
'Energized' implies a new motivational dynamic brought about by the candidate. Specific metrics give clear context to the candidate's influences on the team's performance.
• Manage interdepartmental communication
After: Harmonized • Harmonized interdepartmental communication significantly reducing internal conflict by 65% and led to a more cohesive and efficient workplace.
I chose 'Harmonized' because it conveys a sense of unity and cooperation. The metrics spotlight the impact and the value added to the workplace.
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 Manage.
• Created Monte Carlo simulation using Pandas (Python) to generate 30,000 sample portfolios with 8+ constraints.
• Selected as a case interviewer for analyst candidates (usually reserved for Senior Consultant+ level).
• Overhauled the company's website by increasing graphics usage by 50% and mobile responsiveness by 100%; generated 70% more leads via email capture forms, reduced bounce rate by 20%.
• Liaised with marketing to drive email and social media advertising efforts, using predictive modeling and clustering, resulting in a 35% increase in revenue.
• Assessed capacity risks and developed an operating cost model of a $100MM supplier for a private equity client, highlighting $4-6MM potential savings opportunities.
• Spearheaded redevelopment of internal tracking system in use by 125 employees, resulting in 20+ new features, reduction of 20% in save/load time and 15% operation time.
