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Weak Phrase

“responsible for”

Replace this weak phrase with 5 powerful alternatives to strengthen your resume and improve ATS performance.

Why “responsible for” Weakens Your Resume

“Responsible for” is passive voice and describes duties, not achievements. It's a job description phrase, not a resume phrase.

ATS Impact: This phrase gets flagged as weak by ATS systems. Starting with action verbs like “Led,” “Drove,” or “Executed” dramatically improves scoring.

5 Powerful Alternatives

Before & After Examples

Weak Example

“Responsible for social media marketing”

Strong Example

“Spearheaded social media strategy across 4 platforms, growing follower base from 5K to 85K in 18 months”

Why it's better: Eliminates passive voice, "Spearheaded" shows initiative, numbers prove success

Weak Example

“Responsible for inventory management”

Strong Example

“Orchestrated just-in-time inventory system, reducing holding costs by $240K annually while maintaining 99.2% stock availability”

Why it's better: Active voice, specific system mentioned, dual metrics show balanced optimization

Tips for Using These Power Words

  • Choose the most accurate verb: Pick the synonym that best describes what you actually did. “Spearheaded” is different from “Coordinated.”
  • Add quantifiable results: Strong verbs are even better with numbers. “Increased sales by 40%” beats just “Increased sales.”
  • Match the job description: If the posting uses “orchestrated,” use that instead of “managed” to pass ATS keyword filters.
  • Vary your language: Don't use the same power word throughout your resume. Mix it up to keep recruiters engaged.

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