Job Description Action Verbs
When writing job descriptions at Bowling Green State University, using clear and concise action verbs helps define the role's responsibilities and expectations. Action verbs provide a strong foundation for both the job summary and essential functions, ensuring that duties are accurately communicated and aligned with the position’s level of responsibility.
For the job summary, action verbs should reflect the overall purpose and scope of the role. Examples include: administers, develops, manages, oversees, leads, coordinates, and implements. These verbs help convey the primary function of the position in a direct and impactful way.
For the essential functions, action verbs should describe specific tasks and responsibilities that the employee will perform. Examples include: analyzes, communicates, evaluates, maintains, prepares, researches, supervises, trains, collaborates, and resolves. Using strong action verbs ensures clarity, making it easier for hiring managers and applicants to understand the expectations of the role.
By incorporating precise action verbs, job descriptions become more effective in defining roles, improving recruitment efforts, and ensuring consistency across university job postings.
Administrative Action Verbs
Verb | Definition |
Acquire | Come into possession or control of an item or items. |
Advise | Offer an informed opinion or give specialized information to others. |
Adapt | Modify or change to fit specific or new situations. |
Administer | Oversee the operational details of a process or program and the execution of program goals. |
Aid | Provide what is useful or necessary for achieving an end. |
Allocate | Assign or apportion a resource for a specific reason. |
Analyze | Identify elements, critically examine, and relate them to each other or the whole. |
Ascertain | Find out or make certain. |
Assess | Determine the rate, amount, or value. |
Assign | Specify tasks to be performed by others. |
Arrange | Make preparations for, to plan. |
Audit | Methodically examine or review a financial situation or process. |
Authorize | Approve, usually conveys a high level of authority. |
Communicate | Share or exchange information, news, or ideas. |
Compile | Put together information or assemble data in a new form. |
Conduct | Organize and carry out an activity. |
Consult | Actively consider, seek advice, or request an opinion. |
Conserve | Use or manage resources wisely. |
Cooperate | Act or work jointly with others to obtain a mutual benefit. |
Coordinate | Regulate, adjust, or direct related actions of others to attain desired results. |
Delegate | Entrust tasks or duties to another person while exercising some authority. |
Determine | Decide by choice of alternatives. |
Develop | Disclose, discover, perfect, or unfold a plan or idea in detail, gradually. |
Distribute | Deliver or hand out to several or many. |
Ensure | Make certain that something shall occur. |
Establish | Institute permanently by enactment or agreement. |
Estimate | Forecast future quantities, values, financials, etc., based on judgment or calculations. |
Evaluate | Determine the significance, condition, or value of something through careful study or appraisal. |
Execute | Put into effect or carry out. |
Exercise | To make effective in action. |
Forecast | Predict future events based on specified assumptions. |
Formulate | Put into a systemized expression or statement. |
Furnish | Provide or equip with what is needed. |
Implement | Fulfill an action and carry it out to the point of usage. |
Initiate | Set in motion, introduce. |
Inquire | Ask or search into. |
Inspect | Examine applicable materials to determine quality and suitability for use. |
Interpret | Identify and explain the meaning and significance of something. |
Investigate | Uncover facts through systematic research, analysis, and examination of various sources. |
Launch | Set in motion, introduce. |
Order | Arrange or command to come to a specific place or decision. |
Organize | Set up an administrative structure for; arrange by systematic planning and united effort. |
Process | Take materials or actions through a series of pre-determined steps. |
Procure | Get possession or obtain by particular care and effort. |
Project | Plan, figure, or estimate for the future. |
Propose | Develop a recommendation or suggestion for consideration. |
Provide Lead Direction | Guide and give work direction; usually involves assigning, prioritizing, and reviewing the work of others. |
Reconcile | Check, adjust, settle, or make or prove consistent. |
Research | Conduct a critical investigation involving gathering, reviewing, and interpreting information to develop conclusions. |
Resolve | Settle or find a solution to. |
Review | Examine and consider facts or results for accuracy, completeness, and suitability. |
Secure | Succeed in obtaining or achieving. |
Solicit | Make a petition or request for services or money. |
Triage | Assign degrees of urgency to an object or task. |
Troubleshoot | Locate and eliminate the source of a problem in the workflow. |
Validate | Ensure something is founded in truth or sound data and reasoning. |
Leadership and Management Action Verbs
Verb | Definition |
Activate | Set up or formally introduce with necessary personnel or equipment, to set in motion. |
Advise/Counsel | Offer an informed opinion or give specialized information to others. |
Coach | Train by instruction, demonstration, and practice; provide performance feedback. |
Direct | Govern and have control over work operations, involves establishing goals and objectives. |
Encourage | Give help, inspire, or pay patronage to. |
Expedite | Accelerate the process or progress of a plan or ideas. |
Further | Promote or advance. |
Guide | Lead, direct, supervise, or influence the training of people. |
Implement | Carry out or fulfill by taking action. |
Instruct | Teach, demonstrate, or impart knowledge to others. |
Manage | Direct, control, plan, and organize the operations of an organizational unit; conveys authority for decision-making and accountability for results. |
Motivate | Provide incentive or drive. |
Negotiate | Confer with others to reach an agreement. |
Oversee | Supervise or manage a functional area or operation without necessarily having direct supervisory responsibility. |
Protect | Maintain status or integrity of projects, ideas. |
Supervise | Personally oversee or control the work of others; possess authority to conduct or effectively recommend employment actions. |
Train | Teach, demonstrate, or guide the work performance of others. |
Updated: 02/26/2025 02:24PM