Resume Synonyms for Attained
Want another word for Attained 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, 'Attained'.
InterviewPal Career Team
Resume Experts • 10+ Years Experience
The word "attained" describes reaching or achieving a goal, milestone, or objective. While it indicates success, using this word on your resume can make your accomplishments sound passive and generic. It fails to capture the specific actions you took or the impact you created.
Attained is not necessarily a bad word to have on your resume—it's just not as compelling as other action verbs that demonstrate your proactive approach and leadership. Recruiters see "attained" on countless resumes, making it easy for your achievements to blend into the background.
Instead of using the word attained, use dynamic action verbs that show exactly how you drove results and exceeded expectations. Consider verbs that highlight your strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and measurable impact on business outcomes.
When writing a resume, specificity is key. Rather than simply stating you "attained" something, describe the methods you used, the challenges you overcame, and the quantifiable results you delivered. This approach transforms generic statements into compelling achievement stories.
I've compiled powerful synonyms you can use instead of "Attained" that will make your resume stand out to hiring managers and clearly demonstrate your value proposition to potential employers.
Better Alternatives to Use Instead
Choose the right synonym based on your context. Click any word to see usage tips and copy it to your clipboard.
Achieved
Best for highlighting specific goals or targets you reached, especially with measurable outcomes. More direct and impactful than 'attained' when showcasing quantifiable results.
Secured
Perfect for contexts involving obtaining funding, contracts, partnerships, or competitive wins. Implies strategic effort and successful negotiation.
Delivered
Ideal for project outcomes, service delivery, or when you've successfully completed complex initiatives. Shows reliability and execution excellence.
Exceeded
Best when you've surpassed expectations, targets, or benchmarks. Immediately signals high performance and going above and beyond.
Earned
Perfect for awards, certifications, promotions, or recognition that required effort and merit. Implies you deserved the achievement.
Captured
Excellent for market share, customer acquisition, or competitive wins. Suggests strategic thinking and successful competition.
Realized
Best for strategic goals, vision implementation, or long-term objectives. Suggests thoughtful planning and successful execution of complex initiatives.
Accomplished
Ideal for significant achievements or complex objectives that required skill and determination. More substantial than 'attained'.
Generated
Perfect for revenue, leads, savings, or other quantifiable business outcomes. Emphasizes your ability to create value.
Obtained
Good for acquiring resources, approvals, or permissions that required negotiation or formal processes. More formal than 'attained'.
Reached
Best for milestones, benchmarks, or specific targets. Simple and direct, works well with numerical achievements.
Surpassed
Excellent when you've gone beyond expectations or previous records. Immediately indicates exceptional performance.
Clinched
Perfect for competitive situations, deals, or contracts won against strong competition. Suggests decisive victory.
Landed
Great for securing deals, clients, or opportunities that were competitive or challenging to obtain. Implies successful pursuit.
Fulfilled
Best for meeting commitments, requirements, or obligations. Shows reliability and follow-through on promises made.
Mastered
Perfect for skills, technologies, or competencies where you've achieved expertise level. Shows continuous learning and growth.
Clinched
Ideal for securing deals, agreements, or contracts in competitive situations. Suggests decisive action and successful negotiation.
Scored
Great for competitive wins, rankings, or achievements measured against others. Adds energy and competitive spirit to accomplishments.
Netted
Perfect for financial outcomes, profits, or bottom-line results. Emphasizes the final, tangible benefit achieved.
Gained
Good for acquiring new customers, market share, or capabilities. Simple and direct, works well with growth-related achievements.
Procured
Best for obtaining resources, contracts, or materials through formal processes. Shows systematic approach and negotiation skills.
Bagged
Casual but energetic term for winning awards, deals, or competitive achievements. Use sparingly and in less formal contexts.
Captured
Excellent for market opportunities, customer segments, or competitive advantages. Suggests strategic thinking and successful execution.
Harvested
Perfect for results that came from long-term investments, relationship building, or strategic initiatives. Implies patience and strategic thinking.
Unlocked
Great for breakthrough achievements, accessing new opportunities, or overcoming significant barriers. Suggests problem-solving and innovation.
Clinched
Perfect for decisive wins, final approvals, or competitive victories. Suggests determination and successful conclusion of challenging pursuits.
How to replace Attained with a stronger action verb:
Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase,Attained, with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.
Pro Tips for Resume Writing
Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.
Quantify Everything
Numbers make your achievements concrete. Instead of "improved sales," say "boosted sales by 45%." Metrics are memorable.
Start with Action Verbs
Every bullet point should begin with a strong action verb. This immediately shows initiative and makes your resume more dynamic.
Avoid Repetition
Don't use the same action verb twice. Variety keeps recruiters engaged and showcases the breadth of your skills.
Match the Context
Choose synonyms that match your actual role. Leadership words for leading, collaboration words for teamwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.
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