Resume wording

Another word for “competent” on a resume

"Competent" actively damages a resume, because it is the exact word a lukewarm reference uses. It sets the bar at adequate, and readers hear the ceiling rather than the floor.

4 stronger alternatives, and what each one claims

These are not interchangeable. Picking the wrong one is how a bullet ends up claiming something you did not do, so the second column matters more than the first.

Proficient in

The neutral, standard replacement for a skills list.

Experienced in

Paired with a duration, which does the real work.

Skilled at

A craft where quality varies between practitioners.

Accomplished in

You have specific completed work to point at.

Before and after

The verb is the smaller half of that change. What actually makes the second version work is the number, and no synonym can supply one for you.

When “competent” is the right word

Keep "competent" only in the regulated sense, where it is a defined legal or professional standard, e.g. "deemed competent under the relevant safety regulations".

Other words worth replacing

• another word for “promote”
• another word for “prioritize”
• another word for “strengthen”
• another word for “cultivate”
• another word for “strive”
• another word for “extensive”
• another word for “committed”
• another word for “motivated”

See all resume words