Resume Synonyms for Retained
Want another word for Retained 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, 'Retained'.
InterviewPal Career Team
Resume Experts • 10+ Years Experience
The word "retained" typically describes keeping employees, customers, or resources within an organization. While this demonstrates stability and success, using "retained" on your resume can sound passive and doesn't showcase your active role in achieving these outcomes.
Retained isn't necessarily a bad word to have on your resume—it's just not as powerful as other action verbs that demonstrate your direct impact. When recruiters see "retained," they understand the outcome but don't see your specific contribution to achieving it.
Instead of using the word retained, use action verbs that show how you actively drove retention results. When writing a resume, consider words that highlight your strategies, leadership, and measurable impact on keeping valuable assets within the organization.
The key is to transform passive retention statements into dynamic achievements that show your proactive approach. Rather than simply stating what was retained, demonstrate how you engineered, cultivated, or secured those retention outcomes.
I've compiled powerful synonyms you can use instead of "retained" that will make your resume stand out to hiring managers and showcase your active role in driving retention success.
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.
Preserved
Best used when you actively maintained valuable relationships or assets through strategic efforts, emphasizing your protective and nurturing approach
Secured
Ideal for situations where you actively fought to keep something valuable, suggesting effort and strategic thinking were required
Maintained
Perfect for ongoing efforts to keep standards, relationships, or performance levels consistent over time
Cultivated
Excellent for situations where you nurtured and grew relationships or loyalty over time through deliberate efforts
Sustained
Best for demonstrating your ability to maintain high performance levels or positive outcomes over extended periods
Safeguarded
Ideal when you protected valuable assets or relationships from potential threats or losses through proactive measures
Strengthened
Perfect for situations where you didn't just keep something but made it stronger or more resilient in the process
Reinforced
Excellent when you bolstered existing relationships or systems to make them more stable and enduring
Stabilized
Best used when you brought consistency to volatile situations or prevented turnover in unstable environments
Ensured
Ideal for demonstrating your role in guaranteeing continuity or preventing loss through systematic approaches
Consolidated
Perfect when you brought together scattered elements to create stronger, more unified retention outcomes
Anchored
Excellent for situations where you provided the foundational stability that kept important elements in place
Fortified
Best when you made existing relationships or positions stronger and more resistant to competitive threats
Locked-in
Ideal for demonstrating how you secured long-term commitments or exclusive arrangements that prevented loss
Nurtured
Perfect for showing how you carefully developed and maintained relationships through ongoing attention and care
Defended
Excellent when you actively protected market position, customers, or talent against competitive threats
Upheld
Best for situations where you maintained high standards or commitments despite challenges or pressure to compromise
Perpetuated
Ideal for showing how you ensured important practices, relationships, or outcomes continued over time
Cemented
Perfect when you made relationships or positions permanently secure through definitive actions
Sustained
Excellent for demonstrating your ability to maintain positive outcomes or high performance levels consistently
Preserved
Best when you protected valuable assets, relationships, or competitive advantages from potential loss
Engaged
Ideal when you actively involved people or stakeholders to maintain their commitment and participation
Rallied
Perfect for situations where you brought people together and maintained their support during challenging times
Solidified
Excellent when you made existing relationships or positions more concrete and permanent through strategic actions
Sustained
Best for showing how you maintained important outcomes or performance levels over extended periods
Reinforced
Ideal when you made existing systems, relationships, or positions stronger and more resilient
How to replace Retained with a stronger action verb:
Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase,Retained, 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.
“I replaced just 5 words on my resume. Got 3x more callbacks within a week.”
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