research skills adjectives

20+ Best Words to Describe Research, Adjectives for Research

Research, in simple terms, refers to the systematic investigation and study of a particular subject or topic in order to discover new knowledge or gain a deeper understanding. When embarking on a research journey, one encounters a plethora of words that aptly describe this process.

From “exploration” which emphasizes the journey of discovery, to “inquiry” which underscores the pursuit of answers, and “analysis” which underscores the critical examination of data – each word encapsulates a unique aspect of research, making it a rich and multifaceted endeavor.

Table of Contents

Adjectives for Research

Here are the 20 Most Popular adjectives for research:

• Exploratory
• Investigative
• Interdisciplinary
• Data-driven
• Quantitative
• Qualitative
• Experimental
• Groundbreaking
• Cutting-edge
• Thought-provoking
• Comprehensive

Adjectives for Research Paper:

• Informative
• Well-structured
• Well-researched

Adjectives for Research Skills:

• Detail-oriented
• Resourceful
• Inquisitive

Adjectives for Research Objectives:

Adjectives for research title:.

• Descriptive
• Provocative

Words to Describe Research with Meanings

• Exploratory : Investigating to understand and discover new insights.
• Investigative : Systematically examining and gathering information.
• Systematic : Methodical and organized in approach.
• Academic : Relating to educational or scholarly pursuits.
• Empirical : Based on observed evidence and data.
• Interdisciplinary : Crossing multiple fields or disciplines.
• Innovative : Introducing new and original ideas.
• Data-driven : Relying on factual information and analysis.
• Quantitative : Focused on numerical data and measurements.
• Qualitative : Concentrating on qualities and characteristics.
• In-depth : Thorough and detailed examination.
• Objective : Impartial and free from bias.
• Unbiased : Fair and without prejudice.
• Thorough : Comprehensive and exhaustive investigation.
• Experimental : Involving controlled testing and exploration.
• Groundbreaking : Pioneering and revolutionary findings.
• Cutting-edge : Incorporating the latest advancements and techniques.
• Thought-provoking : Stimulating deep reflection and contemplation.
• Scholarly : Exhibiting qualities of academic research and study.
• Comprehensive : Covering a wide range of aspects.

Example Sentences for Research Adjectives

• The scientists conducted an exploratory survey.
• The detective pursued an investigative approach.
• The researchers followed a systematic methodology.
• She presented her findings at an academic conference.
• The study was based on empirical evidence.
• The project involved interdisciplinary collaboration.
• The company showcased an innovative product design.
• Their decisions were data-driven and evidence-based.
• The team used quantitative analysis for predictions.
• The qualitative study explored participants’ experiences.
• They conducted an in-depth analysis of the data.
• The journalist maintained an objective perspective.
• The investigation was unbiased and impartial.
• The team performed a thorough review of the literature.
• The experiment yielded experimental results.
• The discovery was hailed as groundbreaking .
• The company embraced cutting-edge technology.
• His speech was thought-provoking and inspiring.
• The book contained scholarly research and references.
• The report provided a comprehensive overview of the topic.

Explore More Words:

Words to Describe Study

Words to Describe Process

Words to Describe Stress

How to describe research in writing?

Describe research in writing by highlighting its systematic investigation of a topic to gain new knowledge or deeper insights.

How can I describe research?

You can describe research as a process of exploring, analyzing, and studying a subject to uncover valuable information.

What are the 5 characteristics of research?

The five characteristics of research include being empirical, systematic, objective, logical, and replicable.

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Hi, I'm USMI, engdic.org's Author & Lifestyle Linguist. My decade-long journey in language and lifestyle curation fuels my passion for weaving words into everyday life. Join me in exploring the dynamic interplay between English and our diverse lifestyles. Dive into my latest insights, where language enriches every aspect of living.

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The Most Important Research Skills (With Examples)

• What Are Hard Skills?
• What Are Technical Skills?
• What Are What Are Life Skills?
• What Are Social Media Skills Resume?
• What Are Administrative Skills?
• What Are Analytical Skills?
• What Are Research Skills?
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• What Are Computer Skills?
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Research skills are the ability to find out accurate information on a topic. They include being able to determine the data you need, find and interpret those findings, and then explain that to others. Being able to do effective research is a beneficial skill in any profession, as data and research inform how businesses operate.

Whether you’re unsure of your research skills or are looking for ways to further improve them, then this article will cover important research skills and how to become even better at research.

Key Takeaways

Having strong research skills can help you understand your competitors, develop new processes, and build your professional skills in addition to aiding you in finding new customers and saving your company money.

Some of the most valuable research skills you can have include goal setting, data collection, and analyzing information from multiple sources.

You can and should put your research skills on your resume and highlight them in your job interviews.

What are research skills?

Why are research skills important, 12 of the most important research skills, how to improve your research skills, highlighting your research skills in a job interview, how to include research skills on your resume, resume examples showcasing research skills, research skills faqs.

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Research skills are the necessary tools to be able to find, compile, and interpret information in order to answer a question. Of course, there are several aspects to this. Researchers typically have to decide how to go about researching a problem — which for most people is internet research.

In addition, you need to be able to interpret the reliability of a source, put the information you find together in an organized and logical way, and be able to present your findings to others. That means that they’re comprised of both hard skills — knowing your subject and what’s true and what isn’t — and soft skills. You need to be able to interpret sources and communicate clearly.

Research skills are useful in any industry, and have applications in innovation, product development, competitor research, and many other areas. In addition, the skills used in researching aren’t only useful for research. Being able to interpret information is a necessary skill, as is being able to clearly explain your reasoning.

Research skills are used to:

Do competitor research. Knowing what your biggest competitors are up to is an essential part of any business. Researching what works for your competitors, what they’re doing better than you, and where you can improve your standing with the lowest resource expenditure are all essential if a company wants to remain functional.

Develop new processes and products. You don’t have to be involved in research and development to make improvements in how your team gets things done. Researching new processes that make your job (and those of your team) more efficient will be valued by any sensible employer.

Foster self-improvement. Folks who have a knack and passion for research are never content with doing things the same way they’ve always been done. Organizations need independent thinkers who will seek out their own answers and improve their skills as a matter of course. These employees will also pick up new technologies more easily.

Manage customer relationships. Being able to conduct research on your customer base is positively vital in virtually every industry. It’s hard to move products or sell services if you don’t know what people are interested in. Researching your customer base’s interests, needs, and pain points is a valuable responsibility.

Save money. Whether your company is launching a new product or just looking for ways to scale back its current spending, research is crucial for finding wasted resources and redirecting them to more deserving ends. Anyone who proactively researches ways that the company can save money will be highly appreciated by their employer.

Solve problems. Problem solving is a major part of a lot of careers, and research skills are instrumental in making sure your solution is effective. Finding out the cause of the problem and determining an effective solution both require accurate information, and research is the best way to obtain that — be it via the internet or by observation.

Determine reliable information. Being able to tell whether or not the information you receive seems accurate is a very valuable skill. While research skills won’t always guarantee that you’ll be able to tell the reliability of the information at first glance, it’ll prevent you from being too trusting. And it’ll give the tools to double-check .

Experienced researchers know that worthwhile investigation involves a variety of skills. Consider which research skills come naturally to you, and which you could work on more.

Data collection . When thinking about the research process, data collection is often the first thing that comes to mind. It is the nuts and bolts of research. How data is collected can be flexible.

For some purposes, simply gathering facts and information on the internet can fulfill your need. Others may require more direct and crowd-sourced research. Having experience in various methods of data collection can make your resume more impressive to recruiters.

Data collection methods include: Observation Interviews Questionnaires Experimentation Conducting focus groups

Analysis of information from different sources. Putting all your eggs in one source basket usually results in error and disappointment. One of the skills that good researchers always incorporate into their process is an abundance of sources. It’s also best practice to consider the reliability of these sources.

Are you reading about U.S. history on a conspiracy theorist’s blog post? Taking facts for a presentation from an anonymous Twitter account?

If you can’t determine the validity of the sources you’re using, it can compromise all of your research. That doesn’t mean just disregard anything on the internet but double-check your findings. In fact, quadruple-check. You can make your research even stronger by turning to references outside of the internet.

Examples of reliable information sources include: Published books Encyclopedias Magazines Databases Scholarly journals Newspapers Library catalogs

Finding information on the internet. While it can be beneficial to consulate alternative sources, strong internet research skills drive modern-day research.

One of the great things about the internet is how much information it contains, however, this comes with digging through a lot of garbage to get to the facts you need. The ability to efficiently use the vast database of knowledge that is on the internet without getting lost in the junk is very valuable to employers.

Internet research skills include: Source checking Searching relevant questions Exploring deeper than the first options Avoiding distraction Giving credit Organizing findings

Interviewing. Some research endeavors may require a more hands-on approach than just consulting internet sources. Being prepared with strong interviewing skills can be very helpful in the research process.

Interviews can be a useful research tactic to gain first-hand information and being able to manage a successful interview can greatly improve your research skills.

Interviewing skills involves: A plan of action Specific, pointed questions Respectfulness Considering the interview setting Actively Listening Taking notes Gratitude for participation

Report writing. Possessing skills in report writing can assist you in job and scholarly research. The overall purpose of a report in any context is to convey particular information to its audience.

Effective report writing is largely dependent on communication. Your boss, professor , or general reader should walk away completely understanding your findings and conclusions.

Report writing skills involve: Proper format Including a summary Focusing on your initial goal Creating an outline Proofreading Directness

Critical thinking. Critical thinking skills can aid you greatly throughout the research process, and as an employee in general. Critical thinking refers to your data analysis skills. When you’re in the throes of research, you need to be able to analyze your results and make logical decisions about your findings.

Critical thinking skills involve: Observation Analysis Assessing issues Problem-solving Creativity Communication

Planning and scheduling. Research is a work project like any other, and that means it requires a little forethought before starting. Creating a detailed outline map for the points you want to touch on in your research produces more organized results.

It also makes it much easier to manage your time. Planning and scheduling skills are important to employers because they indicate a prepared employee.

Planning and scheduling skills include: Setting objectives Identifying tasks Prioritizing Delegating if needed Vision Communication Clarity Time-management

Note-taking. Research involves sifting through and taking in lots of information. Taking exhaustive notes ensures that you will not neglect any findings later and allows you to communicate these results to your co-workers. Being able to take good notes helps summarize research.

Examples of note-taking skills include: Focus Organization Using short-hand Keeping your objective in mind Neatness Highlighting important points Reviewing notes afterward

Communication skills. Effective research requires being able to understand and process the information you receive, either written or spoken. That means that you need strong reading comprehension and writing skills — two major aspects of communication — as well as excellent listening skills.

Most research also involves showcasing your findings. This can be via a presentation. , report, chart, or Q&A. Whatever the case, you need to be able to communicate your findings in a way that educates your audience.

Communication skills include: Reading comprehension Writing Listening skills Presenting to an audience Creating graphs or charts Explaining in layman’s terms

Time management. We’re, unfortunately, only given 24 measly hours in a day. The ability to effectively manage this time is extremely powerful in a professional context. Hiring managers seek candidates who can accomplish goals in a given timeframe.

Strong time management skills mean that you can organize a plan for how to break down larger tasks in a project and complete them by a deadline. Developing your time management skills can greatly improve the productivity of your research.

Time management skills include: Scheduling Creating task outlines Strategic thinking Stress-management Delegation Communication Utilizing resources Setting realistic expectations Meeting deadlines

Using your network. While this doesn’t seem immediately relevant to research skills, remember that there are a lot of experts out there. Knowing what people’s areas of expertise and asking for help can be tremendously beneficial — especially if it’s a subject you’re unfamiliar with.

Your coworkers are going to have different areas of expertise than you do, and your network of people will as well. You may even know someone who knows someone who’s knowledgeable in the area you’re researching. Most people are happy to share their expertise, as it’s usually also an area of interest to them.

Networking involves: Remembering people’s areas of expertise Being willing to ask for help Communication Returning favors Making use of advice Asking for specific assistance

Attention to detail. Research is inherently precise. That means that you need to be attentive to the details, both in terms of the information you’re gathering, but also in where you got it from. Making errors in statistics can have a major impact on the interpretation of the data, not to mention that it’ll reflect poorly on you.

There are proper procedures for citing sources that you should follow. That means that your sources will be properly credited, preventing accusations of plagiarism. In addition, it means that others can make use of your research by returning to the original sources.

Attention to detail includes: Double checking statistics Taking notes Keeping track of your sources Staying organized Making sure graphs are accurate and representative Properly citing sources

As with many professional skills, research skills serve us in our day to day life. Any time you search for information on the internet, you’re doing research. That means that you’re practicing it outside of work as well. If you want to continue improving your research skills, both for professional and personal use, here are some tips to try.

Differentiate between source quality. A researcher is only as good as their worst source. Start paying attention to the quality of the sources you use, and be suspicious of everything your read until you check out the attributions and works cited.

Be critical and ask yourself about the author’s bias, where the author’s research aligns with the larger body of verified research in the field, and what publication sponsored or published the research.

Use multiple resources. When you can verify information from a multitude of sources, it becomes more and more credible. To bolster your faith in one source, see if you can find another source that agrees with it.

Don’t fall victim to confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is when a researcher expects a certain outcome and then goes to find data that supports this hypothesis. It can even go so far as disregarding anything that challenges the researcher’s initial hunch. Be prepared for surprising answers and keep an open mind.

Be open to the idea that you might not find a definitive answer. It’s best to be honest and say that you found no definitive answer instead of just confirming what you think your boss or coworkers expect or want to hear. Experts and good researchers are willing to say that they don’t know.

Stay organized. Being able to cite sources accurately and present all your findings is just as important as conducting the research itself. Start practicing good organizational skills , both on your devices and for any physical products you’re using.

Get specific as you go. There’s nothing wrong with starting your research in a general way. After all, it’s important to become familiar with the terminology and basic gist of the researcher’s findings before you dig down into all the minutia.

A job interview is itself a test of your research skills. You can expect questions on what you know about the company, the role, and your field or industry more generally. In order to give expert answers on all these topics, research is crucial.

Start by researching the company . Look into how they communicate with the public through social media, what their mission statement is, and how they describe their culture.

Pay close attention to the tone of their website. Is it hyper professional or more casual and fun-loving? All of these elements will help decide how best to sell yourself at the interview.

Next, research the role. Go beyond the job description and reach out to current employees working at your desired company and in your potential department. If you can find out what specific problems your future team is or will be facing, you’re sure to impress hiring managers and recruiters with your ability to research all the facts.

Finally, take time to research the job responsibilities you’re not as comfortable with. If you’re applying for a job that represents increased difficulty or entirely new tasks, it helps to come into the interview with at least a basic knowledge of what you’ll need to learn.

Research projects require dedication. Being committed is a valuable skill for hiring managers. Whether you’ve had research experience throughout education or a former job, including it properly can boost the success of your resume .

Consider how extensive your research background is. If you’ve worked on multiple, in-depth research projects, it might be best to include it as its own section. If you have less research experience, include it in the skills section .

Focus on your specific role in the research, as opposed to just the research itself. Try to quantify accomplishments to the best of your abilities. If you were put in charge of competitor research, for example, list that as one of the tasks you had in your career.

If it was a particular project, such as tracking the sale of women’s clothing at a tee-shirt company, you can say that you “directed analysis into women’s clothing sales statistics for a market research project.”

Ascertain how directly research skills relate to the job you’re applying for. How strongly you highlight your research skills should depend on the nature of the job the resume is for. If research looks to be a strong component of it, then showcase all of your experience.

If research looks to be tangential, then be sure to mention it — it’s a valuable skill — but don’t put it front and center.

Example #1: Academic Research

Simon Marks 767 Brighton Blvd. | Brooklyn, NY, 27368 | (683)-262-8883 | [email protected] Diligent and hardworking recent graduate seeking a position to develop professional experience and utilize research skills. B.A. in Biological Sciences from New York University. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Lixus Publishing , Brooklyn, NY Office Assistant- September 2018-present Scheduling and updating meetings Managing emails and phone calls Reading entries Worked on a science fiction campaign by researching target demographic Organizing calendars Promoted to office assistant after one year internship Mitch’s Burgers and Fries , Brooklyn, NY Restaurant Manager , June 2014-June 2018 Managed a team of five employees Responsible for coordinating the weekly schedule Hired and trained two employees Kept track of inventory Dealt with vendors Provided customer service Promoted to restaurant manager after two years as a waiter Awarded a $2.00/hr wage increase SKILLS Writing Scientific Research Data analysis Critical thinking Planning Communication RESEARCH Worked on an ecosystem biology project with responsibilities for algae collection and research (2019) Lead a group of freshmen in a research project looking into cell biology (2018) EDUCATION New York University Bachelors in Biological Sciences, September 2016-May 2020

Example #2: Professional Research

Angela Nichols 1111 Keller Dr. | San Francisco, CA | (663)-124-8827 |[email protected] Experienced and enthusiastic marketer with 7 years of professional experience. Seeking a position to apply my marketing and research knowledge. Skills in working on a team and flexibility. EXPERIENCE Apples amp; Oranges Marketing, San Francisco, CA Associate Marketer – April 2017-May 2020 Discuss marketing goals with clients Provide customer service Lead campaigns associated with women’s health Coordinating with a marketing team Quickly solving issues in service and managing conflict Awarded with two raises totaling $10,000 over three years Prestigious Marketing Company, San Francisco, CA Marketer – May 2014-April 2017 Working directly with clients Conducting market research into television streaming preferences Developing marketing campaigns related to television streaming services Report writing Analyzing campaign success statistics Promoted to Marketer from Junior Marketer after the first year Timberlake Public Relations, San Francisco, CA Public Relations Intern – September 2013–May 2014 Working cohesively with a large group of co-workers and supervisors Note-taking during meetings Running errands Managing email accounts Assisting in brainstorming Meeting work deadlines EDUCATION Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA Bachelor of Arts in Marketing with a minor in Communications – September 2009 – May 2013 SKILLS Marketing Market research Record-keeping Teamwork Presentation. Flexibility

What research skills are important?

Goal-setting and data collection are important research skills. Additional important research skills include:

Using different sources to analyze information.

Finding information on the internet.

Interviewing sources.

Writing reports.

Critical thinking.

Planning and scheduling.

Note-taking.

Managing time.

How do you develop good research skills?

You develop good research skills by learning how to find information from multiple high-quality sources, by being wary of confirmation bias, and by starting broad and getting more specific as you go.

When you learn how to tell a reliable source from an unreliable one and get in the habit of finding multiple sources that back up a claim, you’ll have better quality research.

In addition, when you learn how to keep an open mind about what you’ll find, you’ll avoid falling into the trap of confirmation bias, and by staying organized and narrowing your focus as you go (rather than before you start), you’ll be able to gather quality information more efficiently.

What is the importance of research?

The importance of research is that it informs most decisions and strategies in a business. Whether it’s deciding which products to offer or creating a marketing strategy, research should be used in every part of a company.

Because of this, employers want employees who have strong research skills. They know that you’ll be able to put them to work bettering yourself and the organization as a whole.

Should you put research skills on your resume?

Yes, you should include research skills on your resume as they are an important professional skill. Where you include your research skills on your resume will depend on whether you have a lot of experience in research from a previous job or as part of getting your degree, or if you’ve just cultivated them on your own.

If your research skills are based on experience, you could put them down under the tasks you were expected to perform at the job in question. If not, then you should likely list it in your skills section.

University of the People – The Best Research Skills for Success

Association of Internet Research Specialists — What are Research Skills and Why Are They Important?

MasterClass — How to Improve Your Research Skills: 6 Research Tips

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Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.

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What are research skills?

Last updated

26 April 2023

Reviewed by

Broadly, it includes a range of talents required to:

Find useful information

Perform critical analysis

Form hypotheses

Solve problems

It also includes processes such as time management, communication, and reporting skills to achieve those ends.

Research requires a blend of conceptual and detail-oriented modes of thinking. It tests one's ability to transition between subjective motivations and objective assessments to ensure only correct data fits into a meaningfully useful framework.

As countless fields increasingly rely on data management and analysis, polishing your research skills is an important, near-universal way to improve your potential of getting hired and advancing in your career.

Make research less tedious

Dovetail streamlines research to help you uncover and share actionable insights

What are basic research skills?

Almost any research involves some proportion of the following fundamental skills:

Organization

Decision-making

Investigation and analysis

Creative thinking

What are primary research skills?

The following are some of the most universally important research skills that will help you in a wide range of positions:

Time management — From planning and organization to task prioritization and deadline management, time-management skills are highly in-demand workplace skills.

Problem-solving — Identifying issues, their causes, and key solutions are another essential suite of research skills.

Critical thinking — The ability to make connections between data points with clear reasoning is essential to navigate data and extract what's useful towards the original objective.

Communication — In any collaborative environment, team-building and active listening will help researchers convey findings more effectively through data summarizations and report writing.

What are the most important skills in research?

Detail-oriented procedures are essential to research, which allow researchers and their audience to probe deeper into a subject and make connections they otherwise may have missed with generic overviews.

Maintaining priorities is also essential so that details fit within an overarching strategy. Lastly, decision-making is crucial because that's the only way research is translated into meaningful action.

• Why are research skills important?

Good research skills are crucial to learning more about a subject, then using that knowledge to improve an organization's capabilities. Synthesizing that research and conveying it clearly is also important, as employees seek to share useful insights and inspire effective actions.

Effective research skills are essential for those seeking to:

Analyze their target market

Investigate industry trends

Identify customer needs

Detect obstacles

Find solutions to those obstacles

Develop new products or services

Develop new, adaptive ways to meet demands

Discover more efficient ways of acquiring or using resources

Why do we need research skills?

Businesses and individuals alike need research skills to clarify their role in the marketplace, which of course, requires clarity on the market in which they function in. High-quality research helps people stay better prepared for challenges by identifying key factors involved in their day-to-day operations, along with those that might play a significant role in future goals.

• Benefits of having research skills

Research skills increase the effectiveness of any role that's dependent on information. Both individually and organization-wide, good research simplifies what can otherwise be unwieldy amounts of data. It can help maintain order by organizing information and improving efficiency, both of which set the stage for improved revenue growth.

Those with highly effective research skills can help reveal both:

Opportunities for improvement

Brand-new or previously unseen opportunities

Research skills can then help identify how to best take advantage of available opportunities. With today's increasingly data-driven economy, it will also increase your potential of getting hired and help position organizations as thought leaders in their marketplace.

• Research skills examples

Being necessarily broad, research skills encompass many sub-categories of skillsets required to extrapolate meaning and direction from dense informational resources. Identifying, interpreting, and applying research are several such subcategories—but to be specific, workplaces of almost any type have some need of:

Searching for information

Attention to detail

Taking notes

Problem-solving

Communicating results

Time management

• How to improve your research skills

Whether your research goals are to learn more about a subject or enhance workflows, you can improve research skills with this failsafe, four-step strategy:

Make an outline, and set your intention(s)

Know your sources

Learn to use advanced search techniques

Practice, practice, practice (and don't be afraid to adjust your approach)

These steps could manifest themselves in many ways, but what's most important is that it results in measurable progress toward the original goals that compelled you to research a subject.

• Using research skills at work

Different research skills will be emphasized over others, depending on the nature of your trade. To use research most effectively, concentrate on improving research skills most relevant to your position—or, if working solo, the skills most likely have the strongest impact on your goals.

You might divide the necessary research skills into categories for short, medium, and long-term goals or according to each activity your position requires. That way, when a challenge arises in your workflow, it's clearer which specific research skill requires dedicated attention.

How can I learn research skills?

Learning research skills can be done with a simple three-point framework:

Clarify the objective — Before delving into potentially overwhelming amounts of data, take a moment to define the purpose of your research. If at any point you lose sight of the original objective, take another moment to ask how you could adjust your approach to better fit the original objective.

Scrutinize sources — Cross-reference data with other sources, paying close attention to each author's credentials and motivations.

Organize research — Establish and continually refine a data-organization system that works for you. This could be an index of resources or compiling data under different categories designed for easy access.

Which careers require research skills?

Especially in today's world, most careers require some, if not extensive, research. Developers, marketers, and others dealing in primarily digital properties especially require extensive research skills—but it's just as important in building and manufacturing industries, where research is crucial to construct products correctly and safely.

Engineering, legal, medical, and literally any other specialized field will require excellent research skills. Truly, almost any career path will involve some level of research skills; and even those requiring only minimal research skills will at least require research to find and compare open positions in the first place.

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Soft Skills

8 minute read

100 Resume Adjectives (and How to Use Them Right)

Kat Boogaard

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You’re up against a lot of competition in your job search . While numbers can vary a lot depending on the company and position, a recruiter receives an average of 250 resumes for every job opening.

That’s where resume adjectives can help. Choosing the right adjectives can add some oomph to your otherwise cut-and-dried document.

But which ones should you choose and how can you use them effectively? Let’s break down 100 strong adjectives, as well as some do’s and don’ts, so you can use them right. Use this as your guide, and you’ll take your resume up a notch — and maybe even end up at the top of that recruiter’s stack.

Want to learn more?

Take your soft skills to the next level with our comprehensive (and free) ebook!

Resume adjectives to describe your analytical ability

• Detail-oriented
• Inquisitive
• Investigative

Resume adjectives to describe your communication style

• Conscientious
• Diplomatic 
• Thoughtful 

Resume adjectives to describe your collaboration skills

• Cooperative
• Encouraging
• Sympathetic
• Team-minded

Resume adjectives to describe your work ethic

• Disciplined
• Persistent 
• Strong-willed

Resume adjectives to describe your adaptability

• Extensible 
• Multifaceted
• Open-minded
• Resourceful

Resume adjectives to describe your creativity

• Cutting-edge
• Forward-thinking
• Groundbreaking
• Imaginative
• Progressive
• Revolutionary 

Resume adjectives to describe your leadership style

•  Accountable
• Compassionate
• Constructive
• Humble 
• Influential

Where should you use resume adjectives?

All of those words are great, but that doesn’t mean you can just plop them into random places on your resume. You need to be strategic about where you use them so that they add value, rather than distract from your qualifications.

Let’s dig into the details of a few different places where you can leverage resume adjectives. 

1. Your career or professional summary

This is the blurb that you include at the very top of your document. Not every resume has one, but it can be an effective way to provide a little more context that won’t be captured in your bullet points. It’s also a great spot to include some adjectives to describe your skills and experiences.

EXAMPLE:  

Content marketing manager with 5+ years of experience creating and executing forward-thinking content strategies. Possesses an inquisitive eye for performance analytics and dynamic writing, editing, and SEO skills. Committed to providing energizing leadership for content teams.  

2. Your job description bullet points

Think the bullet points under your previous jobs need to be straightforward and boring? Think again. You can incorporate some adjectives there to make those bullets more impressive and engaging to read. 

Content Marketing Manager, January 2017 - July 2020

Company XYZ | New York, New York

• Strategized and created a groundbreaking content strategy, which resulted in an 85 percent increase in free trial conversions.
• Led and mentored a multifaceted content team of 14 writers, editors, graphic designers, and SEO specialists. 
• Pursued and exceeded ambitious content goals, including boosting website traffic 50 percent within one year.

3. Your key skills section

Have you heard of “tailoring” your resume for each job you apply for? Your skills section is an easy place to do this, as you can swap in some different key terms you see listed in the job description. However, it’s also a spot where you can incorporate resume adjectives to elaborate on your competencies. 

• Advanced knowledge of Google Analytics and Clearscope
• Thorough audience research
• Persuasive and respectful communication

See? Peppering some adjectives into your resume isn’t as tough as you might think it is.

Be aware that you can also incorporate them in your cover letter . Your resume needs to be as concise as possible, but your cover letter provides a little more wiggle room to use this type of descriptive language.

Using resume adjectives effectively: do’s and don’ts

You don’t just want to use resume adjectives — you want to use them well . Here are a few do’s and don’ts to help you do that.

1. Do be honest

Honesty is always the best policy on your resume, and that applies to your adjectives too. You can’t pick one just because you think it sounds good. You need to be able to back it up. So, when you select an adjective, ask yourself if that honestly describes you. If you hesitate even a little bit, it’s best to choose another word.

2. Don’t overdo it

Everything is better in moderation. If you pack your resume full with dozens of adjectives, your document might seem like all fluff and no substance. Make sure you’re only using one at a time — there’s no need to string them all together. 

3. Do use them as a complement

Adjectives are meant to emphasize and elaborate on the qualifications you bring to the table. Use them when you feel like you need to add more detail and impact to a statement. For example, you don’t just have knowledge of Google Analytics — you have expert knowledge.

4. Don’t use them as a replacement

With that said, adjectives don’t really carry much weight on their own. They can’t serve as a substitute for your experience, and you’re still better off highlighting results and quantifying achievements wherever you can. Remember, “ Strategized and created a content strategy, which resulted in an 85 percent increase in free trial conversions” is still more powerful than only saying “Strategized and created a groundbreaking content strategy.”  

Resume adjectives can help you stand out (as long as you use them correctly)

Your resume is your golden ticket in the door when you’re job searching. But, when recruiters are receiving piles and piles of documents that look the same, how can you stand out?

Resume adjectives can take your resume from good to great. Use this guide to leverage those words, elevate yourself above the competition, and land an interview — and maybe even the job.

Adjectives are powerful, but they’re no replacement for cold, hard skills. GoSkills has courses to help you build some hard skills to impress your next employer, as well as soft skills courses and resources to help you stand out even more. Try a few today!

Gain the soft skills you need to succeed

Start learning for free with GoSkills courses

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Kat is a writer specializing in career, self-development, and productivity topics. When she escapes her computer, she enjoys reading, hiking, golfing, and dishing out tips for prospective freelancers on her website.

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Mghc02: management skills, 10 steps to expert research skills.

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Expert Tips

As a UTSC Management student, you are required to have outstanding research skills for both assignments and job readiness. Follow these 10 steps to develop your research expertise. 

• Background reading
• Know what you need
• List search terms
• Select a source
• Review results
• Download articles & books
• Evaluate findings
• Integrate research into paper
• Cite your sources

1. Background reading

Do some background reading so you understand your topic.

• Use  Wikipedia , Google, and course readings for introductory material, and links to further reading. Do not quote it in your research. Instead, review the entries in a management encylopedia  or in an  economics encyclopedia .

2. Know what you need

What information do you need to complete this assignment? What have you learned in class that relates to the assignment? List the information you need. 

For example, do you need...

• a company profile?
• a certain number of peer-reviewed articles?
• real-world examples of human resources functions? 
• economics data?

3. List your search terms

List keywords that relate each concept in your research (use a thesaurus , course readings, or lecture notes for ideas).

For example: "Is there a significant relationship between openness and employee performance?"

• openness = open, intellectual, curious, thoughtful, creative
• performance = evaluation, achievement

Put them together using operators. This is what you'll use to search databases. 

• AND will give you fewer results
• OR will give you more results
• Use "QUOTATION MARKS" for 2+ words

4. Select sources

What kind of information do you need? Every database is different. Modify your search strategy if needed. 

• Academic journal articles (including Peer-Review)
• Books/e-Books
• Data & statistics
• Company profiles
• Country reports
• Industry reports

5. Scan results

Scan the titles and abstracts (summaries) in your result list. Assess the number of results and content. 

• Too many results? Narrow your topic by region, population, perspective (ie: North America, post-recession, political)
• Not enough results? Remove keywords, use less specific language, check your spelling
• Are the results answering your questions? If not, go back to Step 3, and change your keywords. 

6. Download articles & books

Download articles 

• Click the article title or on the "Get it! UTL" button to locate the full text of an article in the University of Toronto Libraries' collection.  When you click it, you will be brought to a page that has the full text of the article or a link to it (usually HTML or PDF).

Off-Campus Access

• How to connect to library resources from off-campus

7. Decide what will make it into your final paper

After reading abstracts and articles, decide which articles to use to support the ideas and arguments in your paper.

Ask yourself:

• Is it up to date?
• Is it relevant to your assignment?
• Is the author an expert?
• Is it objective?

Is it Peer-Reviewed?

Peer review is the process by which scholars critically appraise each other's work. It is intended to ensure a high level of scholarship in a journal and to improve the quality and readability of a manuscript. The terms "peer reviewed" and "refereed" mean the same thing.  are the same.

How do you know if the articles in a journal are peer-reviewed?

Some databases allow you to limit to peer-reviewed articles. For other databases, you need to look up the title of the journal in  Ulrich's Periodical Directory .  Search for the journal title (not article title) click on to see the full record. If it says "Refereed: Yes," then you know the journal (and the articles published in it) are refereed/peer-reviewed.

Critical Reading

To read critically is to make judgments about how a text is argued. This is a highly reflective skill requiring you to “stand back” and gain some distance from the text you are reading. (You might have to read a text through once to get a basic grasp of content before you launch into an intensive critical reading.) THE KEY IS THIS:

• don’t read looking only or primarily for information
• do read looking for ways of thinking about the subject matter

When you are reading, highlighting, or taking notes, avoid extracting and compiling lists of evidence, lists of facts and examples. Avoid approaching a text by asking “What information can I get out of it?” Rather ask “How does this text work? How is it argued? How is the evidence (the facts, examples, etc.) used and interpreted? How does the text reach its conclusions?

9. Integrate Research Into Your Paper

Consider the following as you read through research and write your paper:

• Have I provided enough relevant evidence to convince the reader of my claims?
• Have I explained how the evidence supports my claims?
• Have I used innovative and current evidence, rather than stating obvious/outdated information?
• Have I cited the sources of evidence?

Adapted from here.

10. Cite your sources

U of T Writing Centre Guides

• How Not to Plagiarize
• Using Quotations
• Paraphrase and Summary

APA Citation Style ​

• APA, MLA and Chicago Formatting & Style Guides (Excelsior Online Writing Lab)
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The Best Research Skills for a Resume

If you want to apply for a research position, you need to provide evidence of research skills on your resume. In this article, we explore what the best research skills for a resume are, why they are important and how to list them properly. We also provide a researcher resume sample to get you started – you can use it as inspiration or a template.

Table of Contents

What Are Research Skills?

A career like research is an excellent option for anyone who can collect, analyze and interpret data, solve complex problems, dive deep into discovery, and offer innovative solutions. The best thing about being a researcher is that you can not only succeed in science and academia but also climb up the career ladder in the corporate world. Indeed, having solid research skills opens the door to many roles and industries, including academic environments, government settings, transnational corporations, startups, tech giants, and non-profit organizations, to name but a few.

From human behavior to regional studies to biotech, there are myriads of research spheres where a qualified individual can make a difference. Researchers utilize their skills to explore a variety of topics, and if you have your mind set on pursuing a career as a researcher, you need to understand what skill set is pivotal for success in this field.

In a nutshell, research skills are all about searching ways to resolve problems. They are knowledge, abilities and competencies that ensure you can investigate particular topics, perform critical analysis, extract and organize data, interpret results, form hypotheses, and derive data-driven conclusions.

As a researcher, you are expected to be capable of relaying your findings to other people in a compelling and digestible form and even inspire action, both in yourself and in others.

Whether you are a seasoned researcher or a novice in this field, you need to put the right skills on your resume . Below you will find a list of the most in-demand research skills in today’s job market.

The Top 10 Research Skills for a Resume

Communication.

Communication is a crucial aspect of a research career since you are required to share information, relay findings and spread knowledge efficiently and effectively, both orally and in writing . While communication skills certainly have a place on your resume , that doesn’t mean adding “Communication” to your list of skills is enough to move on. You need to provide relevant examples verifying that you can research things as part of a team and work towards a common goal. You could add something like this to add credibility to your claim:

Recruited 7 research assistants for clinical studies by visiting clinics and sending out email invites, increasing participation by 20%.

Explained 100+ research procedures to a group of study participants in 10 days, resulting in a 0% incident rate.

Problem Solving

Being an advanced problem solver means you can consistently identify issues and find effective and efficient solutions to them . It is an extremely valuable skill when it comes to research-based activities, and 86% of employers look for workers who are capable of solving problems in the workplace according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Job Outlook 2022 survey. If you want to add problem-solving skills to your resume, you need to underpin them with relevant accomplishments. For instance, you could add examples like these:

Resolved course accessibility issues by creating interactive presentations for remote learners, increasing student satisfaction by 89%.

Developed and introduced a new computing environment for analysis, identifying 100% of failure patterns and improving issue detection by 75%.

Analytical Skills

Having analytical skills means you can parse data into digestible pieces, interpret them correctly and make data-based connections and conclusions . Data analysis incorporates a vast set of competencies, including technical skills like proficiency in programming languages, such as Python and R, familiarity with data visualization tools, like Tableau and Power BI, and a strong grasp of statistical analysis methods, such as hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and sample size determination. Armed with these skills, a researcher can take data to the next level and drive both innovation and profitability.

Being able to make sense of facts and figures both manually and using automated solutions will help you thrive in most roles, so recruiters would love to know that you are an analytical thinker when considering your candidacy. Your best bet here is to make sure they can find this out by examining your resume. You can add examples like the ones below to prove you can tackle complicated issues using your analytical skill set:

Collected, cleaned and analyzed first-party data from 10+ departments to identify the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company.

Performed regression analysis to determine the effects of a company-wide minimum wage increase, concluding that the hiring process was accelerated by 25% due to the wage change in question.

Qualitative Analysis

Qualitative analysis allows you to analyze a research subject using non-numerical and non-quantifiable parameters, characteristics and indicators and is based on abstract concepts . For instance, you can use qualitative attributes like human behavior or brand reputation to make business decisions or recognize investment opportunities. This skill is in demand today as it helps researchers use their observations to make conclusions, identify patterns and tackle challenges. Since you cannot quantify this area of your expertise, you need to provide relevant context to convince the reader that you are capable of analyzing non-tangible aspects of a subject. You can do that by using appropriate examples, like the following ones:

Evaluated the quality and accuracy of 200+ data sources in a month.

Performed quality control of high-volume content in a rapidly changing environment, maintaining a quality score of 99.9%.

Quantitative Analysis

Quantitative analysis is an approach that allows you to collect, study, measure, and analyze data . From statistical research to financial modeling, quantitative analysis includes a powerful toolkit that helps a researcher refine and simplify vast amounts of raw data to make better decisions and forecast trends.

Quantitative analysis has countless applications: with it, you can track metrics, measure variables and evaluate parameters in multiple fields, from finance and accounting to molecular biology and astrophysics. Therefore, it is no wonder that it is one of the most important research skills for a resume and highlighting it the right way is likely to help you move forward in the job searching process. You can prove that you know how to work with tangible data by providing relevant examples, like the following ones:

Designed a new data analysis technique, saving 30 monthly hours in parameter comparisons.

Used SQL to analyze customer data and identify areas for improvement related to customer conversions, resulting in a conversion boost by 75%.

Academic Writing

Academic writing is the ability to create complex documents containing scientific data, such as formulas, graphs, and charts . Academic writing skills help researchers prepare reports, presentations and articles for scientific journals and magazines, and if you have them, it means you know how to present technical information clearly and concisely. Recruiters from scientific fields are especially interested in candidates capable of writing academically, so submitting a resume with examples of written work is likely to help you secure a position as a researcher. Listing your publications to prove your expertise is the best option here, but since you might not have enough space to add all your papers, books and articles, you could highlight your academic writing proficiency with something like this:

Created 350+ articles on the principles of academic research for the university’s database, increasing student satisfaction by 60%.

Published 30+ papers focused on structural changes in protein conformations.

Literature Review

Literature review is a methodology that implies conducting rigorous research on a particular topic . Having literature review skills means you can explore your subject area in greater depth using sources like books, journal articles, industry magazines, etc. Such competencies allow you to build upon existing knowledge and generate new ideas, accelerating your research and pushing it to its full potential. Naturally, your literature review skills are a valuable asset to your resume. We recommend you to illuminate them with appropriate examples, focusing on tangible outcomes:

Gathered and reviewed 10+ articles on Stata to extract variables from a dataset.

Performed 100+ literature reviews to implement changes in clinical practice, boosting quality of care by 70%.

Time Management

Time management is a powerful soft skill that is especially valuable in research environments. It allows you to manage your time effectively, break large tasks into manageable chunks and prioritize them properly, set up measurable, attainable, and time-bound goals, and even juggle your responsibilities . Proper time management helps you stay focused on your work, boosts your productivity and thereby leads to consistently high results and impressive outcomes. From carrying out experiments to writing reports to teaching, as a researcher, you need to apply time management strategies on a daily basis to successfully accomplish your tasks. You can show you are good at time management on your resume by showcasing your successes, like in the examples below:

Developed a database for organizing behavioral data for 100+ study participants, decreasing data processing time by 30%.

Implemented data analysis techniques in Python, increasing the amount of data analyzed per hour by 17% and accelerating project completion by 40%.

Attention to Detail

Paying attention to detail is a vital aspect of being a researcher. Having this skill helps you gather credible information, perceive meaningful connections, notice discrepancies, and deliver high-quality work based on correct evidence. Since each and every aspect of a career in research requires efficiency and trustworthiness, attention to detail is something you cannot go without – otherwise, your progress will come to a screeching halt. Naturally, you need to illuminate this skill on your resume as recruiters seek candidates who can look at details with a critical eye and minimize distractions. And the best way to do that is by providing a relevant example of success. You can use the ones below for reference:

Checked 10 + data sheets for completion and quality per day, resulting in a <1% error rate.

Supervised the maintenance and updates of the lab’s database with a 99% accuracy rate.

Editing & Proofreading

Editing and proofreading skills are essential to perform successful research since they ensure it is both accurate and easy to read . While editing is more about making your text more digestible and improving the overall quality of your writing, proofreading corrects surface issues like errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar. Both require you to have a solid command of the language you use and a certain degree of focus. The devil is indeed in the details, so you need to always polish your texts before submitting them. Only this way will they be perceived by your peers and superiors as constructive and professional. And to prove you are good at editing and proofreading, you need to add appropriate examples to your resume. Here is how you can demonstrate your ability to provide high-quality texts:

Edited 11 federal grant proposals designed by my team, which generated $200+ in lab funding.

Edited a research paper co-authored with 2 postdoctoral employees regarding protein generation, which received the Best Paper Award in 2020.

How to List Research Skills on a Resume

Your resume is the best place to highlight your research experience and the value you could bring to your next role. The key here is to put your research skills in the right section so that they get noticed by the reader. You have no fewer than 7 options here:

• A dedicated research section
• Your work experience section
• The education section
• The list of your research publications
• The projects section
• The skills section
• Your resume summary

If you have a solid research background, you may want to create a separate section on your resume and call it Research or Research Experience . This place will help you expand on your projects and their details, specify the nature of your research, and describe the specifics of your previous roles, providing relevant examples and demonstrating the most prominent accomplishments.

If your career is all things research, the work/professional experience section can incorporate your research skills and accomplishments. List your employers and your duties, along with the dates of your employment, like you would do when describing your non-research work experience.

Your education section is an appropriate place to highlight your research skills if you are a student or a recent graduate. You can put it at the top of your resume if you want to draw more attention to your research background when applying for your first job in science or academia.

If you have a whole host of published works, it could be a great idea to create a separate section for listing your publications . This will help you add credibility to your research skills and accomplishments. Research-related accomplishments can also be highlighted as projects on your resume. This might be appropriate if your research background is not so extensive or not quite relevant to your current career aspirations.

You can list your research skills in your skills section as long as they are tangible and relevant for the job you want to land. We recommend you to avoid general skills here and focus on industry-specific expertise, illuminating it with the keywords you can find in the corresponding job listing and relevant skill levels .

Highlighting your research skills in the summary section is appropriate if you are applying for a role where a robust research background is essential. Your resume summary is just a few lines appearing at the top of the document, so make sure to add only the most important research skills there – those that you want the reader to see first and foremost.

Why Are Research Skills Important?

Research-oriented positions and most jobs in academia require you to have a solid set of research skills. Employees outside these roles can also benefit from research experience – research skills are transferable , meaning you can bring them to the table no matter your position, career field or job level. Therefore, they are a valuable addition to a resume in many cases.

Businesses and organizations are eager to employ candidates with proven research skills because they can

• come up with original plans and ideas,
• design innovative products and services,
• improve processes,
• keep up with technology,
• identify customers’ needs and requirements and find ways to meet them,
• resolve complicated issues,
• analyze competitors’ strengths and weaknesses,

By adding research skills to your resume, you show recruiters that you can think outside the box, know how to work with data and technology, are capable of making well-informed decisions, and are good at solving problems. This makes you a valuable hire in today’s skill-based job market

A Resume Sample to Apply for a Research Position

JOHN/JANE DOE Research Assistant Location ⋅ Email ⋅ Phone number Diligent and hardworking clinical researcher seeking a position at [Name of Company] to apply academic expertise and facilitate biological research. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Company/Organization, Location Dates of Employment Research Assistant Assisted scientists in 30+ research projects related to therapeutics for COVID-19 Conducted data-driven testing with an accuracy rate of 98% Supervised a team of 3 junior research assistants with daily laboratory duties Company/Organization, Location Dates of Employment Graduate Research Assistant Participated in cell research projects as part of a cross-departmental team of 30 researchers. Performed cell counts with 99% accuracy Was engaged in developing a platform to investigate immune responses to virus-infected hepatocytes. … Company/Organization, Location Dates of Employment Research Student Assistant Gathered and analyzed data and evidence for 10+ clinical research cases monthly. Awarded “Research Impact Award” in recognition of consistent research excellence (only 1 student is awarded in a class of 100). … EDUCATION NAME OF UNIVERSITY Location Degree, Major Dates of Education SKILLS Molecular cloning RNA isolation Cell counting Knowledge of SQL code and queries Data analysis Literature review

A career in research is an extremely exciting yet quite a demanding path. Since the competition for positions in the field is very fierce, as a researcher, you need to have high levels of determination and persistence and a powerful combination of skills. The research skills we have outlined in this article are what recruiters expect to see on your resume, so make sure to expand on them to get the job of your dream, rise to the top of your game and deliver ground-breaking research.

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100 Powerful Resume Adjectives that Can Help Make Your Resume More Compelling

11 min read · Updated on February 22, 2024

When it comes to resumes, it's not just what you say; it's how you say it that determines its impact on the reader.

The resume creation process is notoriously challenging for many people. Too often, job candidates end up with resumes that are dry, dull, and anything but compelling. Even when you manage to meticulously organize all the right details into a coherent narrative, the end product can leave the reader unimpressed if the words you use fail to make your case. One of the most important things that you can do to create a compelling resume is to understand which adjectives you can use to powerfully sell your experiences, skills, and accomplishments.

In this post, we will explore 100 of the most powerful resume adjectives and offer some simple tips that can help you better determine where and how to use power adjectives in your resume. 

For ease of reading, we have separated these adjectives into groupings that reflect their best uses within any resume setting:

Adjectives to...

describe communication abilities

illustrate your flexibility

describe your attitude about work

expand on your management skills

describe your analytical and problem-solving skills

illustrate your organizational abilities

describe your teamwork skills

describe your leadership abilities

highlight time management skills

demonstrate your creative thinking

10 Resume adjectives that can powerfully describe your communication abilities

Most job seekers claim to have good communication skills and will often refer to themselves as great communicators in their resumes or during interviews. All too often, however, they will use words and phrases that are stale or carry negative connotations. For example, you might consider yourself an aggressive negotiator who can effectively secure a deal through sheer force of will and sound reasoning. But what would a hiring manager think when they hear you use the word “aggressive” in that instance?

Instead of saying “aggressive”, you should use a softer but equally descriptive word like “assertive.” You should also avoid tired phrases like “easy to understand” and opt for words like “clear” or “coherent” instead. Instead of describing yourself as a “people person” use the word “personable.” With that in mind, here are 10 great resume adjectives you can use to describe your communication abilities:

10 Resume adjectives you can use to illustrate your flexibility

Instead of simply declaring that you are flexible in the workplace, you should try to use resume adjectives that illustrate that flexibility in a more creative way. The following adjectives can provide hiring managers with a more insightful understanding of your ability to deal with change and tell a much more compelling statement about the type of employee they would get if they decided to hire you.

Multifaceted

Open-minded

10 Resume adjectives that describe your attitude about work

Are you a hard worker who will give your all to the company that hires you? You can say those words to a hiring manager, but what does that really mean to any prospective employer? The powerful adjectives listed below can better describe your overall attitude and work ethic in a more detailed and compelling way, painting a clearer picture of how you will approach your job.

Enterprising

Enthusiastic

Industrious

10 Resume adjectives that expand on your management skills

Management candidates often use the same language to describe their styles and abilities: well-coordinated, focused on productivity and meeting goals, people-oriented, etc. A resume that includes those claims can easily get lost in the shuffle, along with a hundred other resumes that repeat those same words and phrases. To get noticed, you need to use powerful resume adjectives like the ones listed below to juice up your resume and stand out from the crowd.

Compassionate

Detail-oriented

Fast-learning

10 Resume adjectives to use when describing your analytical and problem-solving skills

Analytical problem-solvers are a dime a dozen these days—at least they are if you only rely on how people describe themselves in resumes. Unfortunately, those buzzwords have become so overused that they have all but lost meaning. They are now almost nothing more than generalized descriptions of skills that should require much more elaboration. The good news is that you can provide that detailed look at your analytical and problem-solving skills by including some of these powerful resume adjectives.

Inquisitive

10 Resume adjectives that illustrate your organizational abilities

Does your resume describe you as organized? What do you think a hiring manager thinks when they read the word “organized” in your resume summary or skills section? That's right; not much of anything at all. To really convey your organizational skills, you need to use adjectives that drill down to the habits and work styles that make you an organized employee. For example:

Businesslike

Comprehensive

10 Resume adjectives that are useful for describing your teamwork skills

“Teamwork” might make the dream work, but it's not a great word to focus on in your resume. Why? Because it's another one of those words that get overused. More importantly, it really doesn't describe the qualities that make you a great team player. However, the adjectives we listed for you below will achieve that goal for you by illustrating the character traits and attitudes that help you function effectively in any group setting.

Collaborative

Cooperative

Encouraging

10 Resume adjectives you can use to describe your leadership abilities

Great leaders never trumpet their leadership abilities. After all, they don't need to boast about being good leaders; their actions and attitudes do the bragging for them. So, if you have great leadership skills, don't just say that in your resume. Instead, use some of the compelling adjectives below to make that case for you.

Accountable

Disciplined

Motivational

Resourceful

10 Resume adjectives that highlight time management skills

Companies want to know that potential employees can manage their time effectively. As a result, it is important to be able to convince any prospective employer that you have the time management  skills needed to be as productive as they expect. To make that case, you need to do more than simply claim that you know how to manage your own time. You need to describe qualities that they can reasonably expect to help you achieve that efficiency and productivity. These resume adjectives are great options to help them reach that conclusion.

Conscientious

Goal-oriented

Self-managing

Streamlined

Well-organized

10 Powerful adjectives to demonstrate your creative thinking

Today's top companies are always in the market for creative thinkers to add to their teams. That probably explains why so many job seekers insist on describing themselves in those terms on their resumes. But like other tired phrases, those words can easily be dismissed by any hiring manager who wants to see some hint of evidence that you really are creative. One way to demonstrate that creativity is to get creative with the resume adjectives you use to describe your innovative approach to work. Try some of these resume adjectives to really highlight that creative thinking:

Forward-thinking

Ground-breaking

Imaginative

Progressive

Revolutionary

Unconventional

Adjectives you should never include in a resume

Throughout the sections above, we have pointed out why some of the most commonly used skill descriptors are too broad or stale to make for compelling descriptions in your resume. Obviously, those are not the only descriptive words that you should avoid when you are creating your resume. In fact, there are a whole host of commonly overused or inappropriate adjectives that people frequently choose for their resume descriptions.

For example, does your resume include words like “proactive” or “synergistic”? If so, nix them. Likewise, you can omit clever words like “seasoned” from your document, as well as overused words like “hard-working”. While they have long been trendy descriptors used by many thousands of job seekers, they are now considered more than a little cliché.

You should also avoid using words that sound subjective. For example, don't describe yourself as honest, smart, or loyal. If you are those things, the hiring manager will notice from your resume or interview. More importantly, those traits are often relative. You may think you are loyal, but your definition of loyalty and someone else's may be dramatically different. Stick to demonstrable facts that can be objectively verified.

There are also some words that can create negative emotions for those who read them. Yes, you might think of yourself as ambitious, but should you describe yourself in those terms? Not in a resume. The word competitive is another one that might sound innocent enough in casual conversation but might not sound so attractive to a hiring manager who reads your resume.

Finally, you should avoid using words that seem like you're stating the obvious. Never say that you are professional; it should be assumed and demonstrated. Other obvious words include qualified, responsible, and knowledgeable. If you think about it for a few minutes, you can probably produce your own list of adjectives that are just too obvious to be useful in any resume.

How to use resume adjectives properly

To make the best use of these adjectives and others like them, you need to know when and where to use them in your resume. There are three main areas where they can help you create a more compelling narrative: 

your resume summary

your work experience section 

your skills section

Why you need resume adjectives in your resume summary

Your  resume summary is designed to be a condensed elevator pitch that captures the hiring manager's attention and brevity is vital to achieving that goal. The judicious use of powerful resume adjectives can help you create a compelling introduction in a brief way.

How resume adjectives can juice up your work experience

Good resume adjectives can enable you to effectively describe your achievements in the experience section of your resume. Be sure to select adjectives that highlight the skills and competencies you will need for the position you are seeking, to help the hiring manager quickly understand the value you can provide for their company.

Resume adjectives can add flavor to your skills

The skills section on any resume is even briefer than the resume summary, but that doesn't mean that adjectives can't enhance its effectiveness. Choose strong adjectives to couple with your skills to give that section a little more flavor and descriptiveness. 

Tips to guide you as you incorporate powerful resume adjectives into your resume

Finally, we would be remiss if we failed to provide some tips that you can use to guide your usage of resume adjectives. After all, you don't want to simply start inserting adjectives in a random way. Fortunately, there are some helpful things that you can do to ensure that you make the best use of resume adjectives. For example:

Do not use too many adjectives. While it might seem that more is better than less, that is seldom the case when it comes to descriptive words. Too many resume adjectives will give the impression that you're trying too hard to make your case.

Adjectives can embellish your skills and experiences, but they cannot take their place. Use them for elaboration and emphasis only.

Always make sure that you can justify an adjective's use with real achievements and data. Overhyping your skills or experiences could work against you if the hiring manager sees no evidence to support your claims.

Carefully choose adjectives from this post or other sources, and make sure that they are relevant to your experience, skills, and the job description .

Link adjectives to powerful  action verbs that help you tell a compelling story about your value as an employee.

When it comes to creating a compelling resume, you need to do as much as possible in a limited amount of space. To that end, the words you choose will ultimately determine your resume's effectiveness. Knowing which resume adjectives to use and when to use them can help ensure that you craft your career narrative in a way that maximizes your opportunity for success.

Wondering whether your resume is making adequate use of compelling and powerful adjectives? Take advantage of our free resume review opportunity to learn whether your resume has what it takes to make the right impression on prospective employers!

Recommended Reading:

How to Maximize Your Resume Action Words to Wow the Employer

Resume Help: Your Resume Questions Answered

Spring Clean Your Resume: Scrub Your Resume of Unclear Language

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

See how your resume stacks up.

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Choosing the Right Resume Adjectives

Understanding adjectives on your resume

Categories of adjectives for resumes, examples of resume adjectives for different situations, examples of resume adjectives for different industries, common mistakes to avoid when using adjectives on your resume, key takeaways for choosing the best resume adjectives.

Using the right adjectives on your resume is important. They enhance the impact of your resume and make your statements more effective.

But how do you choose the right ones?

It’s a delicate balancing act. You want to be confident, but not arrogant. You want to be consistent, but not repetitive. Choosing adjectives to describe yourself, in general, can be stressful.

We’ve taken the guesswork out of the process for you and compiled some of the best adjectives to use on your resume. To make it even easier, we’ve split them up by category and industry.

In this article, we’ll cover topics like:

• Understanding the importance of adjectives in a resume
• Using adjectives in different categories on your resume
• Choosing the right adjectives based on experience level
• The best resume adjectives for your industry
• Common mistakes to avoid when choosing adjectives for your resume

Once you’ve read through our tips and decide what adjectives are the best for you, start creating your amazing resume with our resume builder.

First things first. Before we dive into the best way to use adjectives, let’s clearly define what an adjective is.

To put it most simply, an adjective is a word that describes a noun.

On a resume, adjectives are an opportunity to show potential employers your best traits and habits. They describe the abilities you exercised in pursuit of your goals.

Adjectives enhance the impact of your resume by showing hiring managers what you will bring to their company. Each adjective shows what you are capable of and the kind of employee you’ll be.

Don’t just randomly select adjectives because they make you sound good. You will need to provide proof of your claims, so be honest when describing yourself.

Study the job description for your target role. Take note of the adjectives they use and include them in your resume.

Be sure to include them in a way that is truthful and natural. Directly copy-and-pasting phrases from the company will be obvious to recruiters.

There is a variety of ways to use powerful resume adjectives in different categories and situations.

Deciding what adjectives to pick for your resume can be overwhelming. There are so many to choose from!

One way to make your selection easier is by dividing them into three categories:

• Adjectives for describing your skills
• Adjectives for highlighting your personality traits
• Adjectives for emphasizing your achievements

Companies may be looking to hire someone with specific skills. Emphasizing your level of expertise will be more effective than simply listing them in the skills section of your resume.

Here’s an example of how that might look in your resume experience section.

• • Expert Java and Python developer with 98% accuracy rate
• • Applied innovative solutions to coding errors in 5 major programs
• • Focused on long-term goals, completed 14 projects in my first year

Highlighting your personality traits is a great opportunity to show soft skills.

This is especially helpful for people-facing roles like customer service and leadership positions. Use adjectives here to show potential employers how you will fit into their company culture.

For even greater impact, combine your adjectives with action verbs .

Here is one example of how you can use adjectives to highlight personality traits in a resume section for strengths.

Notice how this candidate included examples along with their adjectives.

Recruiters don’t know you. They won’t just take your word for it.

A section like the one above highlights your most important strengths and backs up your claims with evidence.

Good resume adjectives should also be used when describing your achievements.

Awards and accomplishments say a lot on their own, but why not make the impact even greater with a few powerful resume adjectives?

Let’s take a look at an example.

For more inspiration on how to use adjectives on your resume, browse our collection of resume examples.

Now that you know how to group your resume adjectives into categories, let’s get into which adjectives to use.

There are several factors that go into determining which are the best resume adjectives for you. Among the most significant are seniority and experience.

Never lie on your resume and call yourself an “expert” at something when you’re really a beginner. Potential employers will call upon those skills and you’ll quickly be caught when you can’t deliver.

This puts entry-level candidates in a tough spot. How can you describe your achievements if you have little to no experience?

There are still plenty of strong resume adjectives that you can use to accurately describe your skills at their current level.

Here are a few resume adjective examples for entry-level candidates:

Experienced professionals have a wide range of resume adjectives to choose from.

The longer you’ve worked in an industry and the more you’ve diversified your skillset, the greater your pool of options.

Show hiring managers what a valuable candidate you are by enhancing the impact of your resume with strong adjectives.

If you’re applying for a leadership position, employers will want to know how you manage others in addition to your technical skills.

Here are a few resume adjective examples for experienced professionals:

Candidates transitioning into a new career fall somewhere between the two examples above.

Maybe you have years of experience in one industry, but very little in your new one.

A good strategy for career-transitioning resumes is to rely on transferable skills. Choose the best resume adjectives to describe your past experience as it relates to your target role.

Focus on areas where your expertise and the job description overlap.

Here are a few useful resume adjective examples for candidates transitioning careers:

The best adjectives for your resume will vary depending on your industry. Certain skills and personality traits are more valuable in some fields than they are in others.

The best way to ensure that you’re using relevant adjectives is to compare them to the job description.

Always tailor every section of your resume to fit your target job. This will show hiring managers why you’re the right fit for their specific position.

Adjectives for the IT industry

Positions in IT typically lean heavily on technical skills. Listing the programs and coding languages you know in your skills section is great, but choosing the right adjectives will have an even greater impact.

IT resume adjectives:

Adjectives for the teaching and education industry.

Teaching and education is a dynamic field. Instructors need to be patient and personable with students. Subject matter experts need to be highly skilled in their niche. The adjectives you choose will likely cover a broad range.

Teacher resume adjectives:

Adjectives for the sales and marketing industry.

Candidates for sales and marketing roles need to be comfortable meeting with clients and closing deals. Having strong people skills is something you want to emphasize. Understanding market trends and giving presentations are assets as well.

Sales and marketing resume adjectives:

Adjectives for the nursing and healthcare industry.

Working in nursing and healthcare requires a lot of dedication and perseverance. It is a demanding industry and hiring managers will want to see what you can bring to the table.

Also, don’t discount soft skills on your resume. Compassion and good bedside manner are valuable in this field.

Nurse resume adjectives:

Adjectives for the business and management industry.

For business and management roles, you’ll want to show your leadership qualities. Great managers can lead teams and make big decisions. Highlight past accomplishments by describing them with powerful adjectives.

Business and management resume adjectives:

For any given role, recruiters may read through hundreds of resumes from qualified candidates with similar skills and experience.

Imagine how repetitive that would be!

Something you definitely want to avoid when writing your resume is overused adjectives.

Here are a few of the most common ones:

At first glance, some of these may not seem so bad. That’s exactly why they appear on so many resumes.

Using generic adjectives like “hardworking” and “accomplished” won’t help you. Mainly because they don’t mean anything without context.

The word “hardworking” can be interpreted in countless ways by different recruiters and hiring managers.

Not only that but it should be expected. If a company is looking to hire someone, of course, they want candidates who work hard. Avoid adjectives that suggest the bare minimum.

Other adjectives on the list above are to be avoided due to their informal nature.

Every section of your resume should be completely professional. Even if the company culture at your target job is casual.

Consider the impression it gives by using words like “amazing” and “funny” to describe yourself on your resume. Is that a candidate you would want to hire?

There are ways you can inject a bit of your personality into your resume without coming off as unprofessional or arrogant.

Lastly, a common mistake you want to avoid is overusing the same adjectives throughout your resume.

Once you identify a few powerful resume adjectives, it may be tempting to use them over and over again. This is repetitive and shows a lack of range.

Be selective and don’t use the same adjective more than once unless absolutely necessary.

Using the right resume adjectives to describe yourself will greatly enhance the impact of your resume. Show hiring managers what you will bring to their company.

Consider what adjectives to use for your resume in the categories of skills, personality traits, and achievements. Support your claims with examples from previous roles.

Different positions and situations call for different resume adjectives. Choose the right ones for your seniority level and experience.

Tailor your resume adjectives to fit your target role. The most valuable traits vary across industries and it’s important to focus on the ones that are the most relevant.

Avoid common mistakes and don’t use adjectives that are generic or informal. Be mindful not to repeat the same ones multiple times.

Lastly, be creative and confident when using adjectives in your resume. They are meant to show recruiters your unique qualities, and there’s only one you!

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The top 10 skills to put on a resume in 2024, from research.

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Every two or three years, refresh the skills on your resume or they will quickly become outdated

Are you still listing "Microsoft Office proficiency," "dynamic team-player," or "hard worker" on your resume?

If you've caught yourself agreeing with the above statement, then, chances are, your resume is out of date. That may come as shocking news, but here's what's even more shocking:

Although there are close to nine million job openings in the United States, there are an estimated 6.3 million unemployed , which means there are more jobs than workers—a ratio of 1.4. With such a vast number of opportunities available, it seems incredulous that so many are still out of work, but this can be explained by a multitude of factors, one major factor being the costly skills gap.

Employers, desirous of filling a position, are struggling to hire for their role because the labour market—the job applicants for the position—do not have the required skills, or worst of all, they actually do possess these competencies but fail to effectively demonstrate or make reference to them within their resume and application. Both sides lose in the process, inflation continues to rise, and the situation for job seekers continues to spiral.

It's evident that the workforce is evolving; and so is the skills demand.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, skills to include in your resume.

In consideration of this, the World Economic Forum compiled a list of core skills on the rise, gathered from their extensive research survey conducted in 2023. These skills were specifically cited by employers as increasing in priority. This means that if you include these—and examples of where and how you've displayed them, while quantifying your achievements—on your resume, you gain a striking advantage.

The top 10 skills highlighted, which you can put on your resume, are:

1. Creative Thinking

Employers need workers who are willing to think outside the box and are confident enough to voice their ideas and suggestions. While presently, this may not always be welcomed and well received, there appears to be an ongoing shift in leaders who are recognizing the importance of emotional intelligence, and providing safe open spaces for workers to challenge the status quo and input their perspectives. As this shift continues, your creativity will be of high value in the workplace and can be instrumental in ensuring cost-effective and time-efficient solutions, regardless of your specific role.

2. Analytical Thinking

Are you confident with analyzing vast amounts of data from various sources analyzing them to arrive at your own conclusions and make data-driven decisions? If you've applied this skill in previous roles, include examples of this on your resume. What's more, if you've used any specific data analysis tools or have any certifications relating to this skill, you might be able to score more points with the hiring manager.

3. Technological Literacy

Technological literacy refers to the understanding and practical usage of digital tools in an ethical manner. While of course, traditional Microsoft office applications that are commonly used such as Word and PowerPoint have their place, gaining an advanced understanding of Excel, Power BI, or other cutting edge or more recent tools including Microsoft's own Copilot, can help you stand out as a relevant candidate and makes you more of an attractive catch.

4. Curiosity And Lifelong Learning

An attitude of curiosity is very much needed in workers today, because without a continuous desire for lifelong learning, your skill set will become stale and you will be unable to adapt effectively. This means you will hold less value to employers and will be less likely to be promoted or given a pay raise. Curiosity and lifelong learning are elements of the growth mindset, and help you to achieve your full potential.

Update yourself on cutting-edge technology and include the names of these software tools in your ... [+] resume

5. Resilience, Flexibility And Agility

Resilience and flexibility came fifth on the World Economic Forum's list, and LinkedIn's 2024 Most In-Demand Skills report showcased how adaptability (agility) is the "skill of the moment" for 2024, reiterating how valuable this skill-set is. Employers want to see examples of times you've effectively navigated change and persevered through difficulties. What steps did you take to be resilient and agile in your work practices?

6. Systems Thinking

Systems thinking is a unique way to approach problem-solving by assessing how different problems have relationships to each other as part of a wider, interrelated system. It's a holistic approach that considers interdependencies, and can be useful in roles such as project management, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, change management, and leadership in large organizational structures.

7. AI And Big Data

An understanding of AI (artificial intelligence), large language models, and big data (large, complex data sets) can be helpful in enabling employers to tackle one of their biggest challenges for the year ahead—implementing AI within their workflows and products.

8. Motivation And Self-Awareness

Motivation and self awareness are critical skills for remote and hybrid workers, as you will need to have sufficient drive to manage your workload and your time management. You also need to be self-aware enough to recognise where your performance could improve and what steps you can take to cooperate with your employer and enable high performance levels.

Perhaps you might not explicitly mention these skills in your resume, but you could allude to specific examples of where you took initiative through your own self-awareness to undertake training or upskilling. Or you might mention how you manage your workload and prioritize tasks and meetings efficiently.

9. Talent Management

Considering the widening labor and skills gap in 2024, it's no wonder that employers are seeking more professionals with expertise in talent management—not only talent attraction and recruitment, but in talent development, performance management, and continuous training. This is not a skill set restricted to human resources professionals alone. If you want to work in leadership or management, you should, at least broadly, have talent management under your belt.

10. Service Orientation And Customer Service

Coming in at 10th in The World Economic Forum's list of skills on the rise, customer service remains a key concern and priority for employers. Artificial intelligence can replace many of the most basic front-facing customer service roles such as answering FAQs and resolving general inquiries. But building relationships with customers, particularly at the B2B level, remains a skill that robots cannot perform, as this requires deeper levels of understanding, trust, and human expertise.

To adapt to industry and global workplace shifts, employers need professionals like you who are nimble to significant market changes, have an attitude of continuous learning, and improve their skills regularly to stay on trend, so they can be more efficient and productive. They won't know if you have these skills or not unless you show them. Don't take it for granted that you can demonstrate these skills in your interview. Without adequate mention of them at the screening stage, there may be no interview at all.

Talent management is a skill that is in demand, beyond the human resources profession

Still considering whether or not to include "Dynamic team-player" as a skill on your resume?

Better replace it with one of these skills instead.

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Research: How Different Fields Are Using GenAI to Redefine Roles

• Maryam Alavi

Examples from customer support, management consulting, professional writing, legal analysis, and software and technology.

The interactive, conversational, analytical, and generative features of GenAI offer support for creativity, problem-solving, and processing and digestion of large bodies of information. Therefore, these features can act as cognitive resources for knowledge workers. Moreover, the capabilities of GenAI can mitigate various hindrances to effective performance that knowledge workers may encounter in their jobs, including time pressure, gaps in knowledge and skills, and negative feelings (such as boredom stemming from repetitive tasks or frustration arising from interactions with dissatisfied customers). Empirical research and field observations have already begun to reveal the value of GenAI capabilities and their potential for job crafting.

There is an expectation that implementing new and emerging Generative AI (GenAI) tools enhances the effectiveness and competitiveness of organizations. This belief is evidenced by current and planned investments in GenAI tools, especially by firms in knowledge-intensive industries such as finance, healthcare, and entertainment, among others. According to forecasts, enterprise spending on GenAI will increase by two-fold in 2024 and grow to $151.1 billion by 2027 .

• Maryam Alavi is the Elizabeth D. & Thomas M. Holder Chair & Professor of IT Management, Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology .

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Ieee spectrum, follow ieee spectrum, support ieee spectrum, enjoy more free content and benefits by creating an account, saving articles to read later requires an ieee spectrum account, the institute content is only available for members, downloading full pdf issues is exclusive for ieee members, downloading this e-book is exclusive for ieee members, access to spectrum 's digital edition is exclusive for ieee members, following topics is a feature exclusive for ieee members, adding your response to an article requires an ieee spectrum account, create an account to access more content and features on ieee spectrum , including the ability to save articles to read later, download spectrum collections, and participate in conversations with readers and editors. for more exclusive content and features, consider joining ieee ., join the world’s largest professional organization devoted to engineering and applied sciences and get access to all of spectrum’s articles, archives, pdf downloads, and other benefits. learn more →, join the world’s largest professional organization devoted to engineering and applied sciences and get access to this e-book plus all of ieee spectrum’s articles, archives, pdf downloads, and other benefits. learn more →, access thousands of articles — completely free, create an account and get exclusive content and features: save articles, download collections, and talk to tech insiders — all free for full access and benefits, join ieee as a paying member., boston dynamics unleashes new spot variant for research, get ready for some wild new quadruped skills.

With access to Spot's new API, researchers can teach the robot new tricks.

At Nvidia GTC last week, Boston Dynamics CTO Aaron Saunders gave a talk about deploying AI in real-world robots—namely, how Spot is leveraging reinforcement learning to get better at locomotion (We spoke with Saunders last year about robots falling over ). And Spot has gotten a lot better—a Spot robot takes a tumble on average once every 50 kilometers, even as the Spot fleet collectively walks enough to circle the Earth every three months.

That fleet consists of a lot of commercial deployments, which is impressive for any mobile robot, but part of the reason for that is because the current version of Spot is really not intended for robotics research, even though over 100 universities are home to at least one Spot. Boston Dynamics has not provided developer access to Spot’s joints, meaning that anyone who has wanted to explore quadrupedal mobility has had to find some other platform that’s a bit more open and allows for some experimentation.

Boston Dynamics is now announcing a new variant of Spot that includes a low-level application programming interface (API) that gives joint-level control of the robot. This will give (nearly) full control over how Spot moves its legs, which is a huge opportunity for the robotics community, since we’ll now be able to find out exactly what Spot is capable of. For example, we’ve already heard from a credible source that Spot is capable of running much, much faster than Boston Dynamics has publicly shown, and it’s safe to assume that a speedier Spot is just the start.

When you buy a Spot robot from Boston Dynamics, it arrives already knowing how to walk. It’s very, very good at walking. Boston Dynamics is so confident in Spot’s walking ability that you’re only allowed high-level control of the robot: You tell it where to go, it decides how to get there. If you want to do robotics research using Spot as a mobility platform, that’s totally fine, but if you want to do research on quadrupedal locomotion, it hasn’t been possible with Spot. But that’s changing.

The Spot RL Researcher Kit is a collaboration between Boston Dynamics, Nvidia, and the AI Institute . It includes a joint-level control API, an Nvidia Jetson AGX Orin payload, and a simulation environment for Spot based on Nvidia Isaac Lab. The kit will be officially released later this year, but Boston Dynamics is starting a slow rollout through an early adopter beta program .

From a certain perspective, Boston Dynamics did this whole thing with Spot backwards by first creating a commercial product and only then making it into a research platform. “At the beginning, we felt like it would be great to include that research capability, but that it wasn’t going to drive the adoption of this technology,” Saunders told us after his GTC session. Instead, Boston Dynamics first focused on getting lots of Spots out into the world in a useful way, and only now, when the company feels like it has gotten there, is the time right to unleash a fully featured research version of Spot. “It was really just getting comfortable with our current product that enabled us to go back and say, ‘How can we now provide people with the kind of access that they’re itching for?’ ”

Getting to this point has taken a huge amount of work for Boston Dynamics. Predictably, Spot started out as a novelty for most early adopters, becoming a project for different flavors of innovation groups within businesses rather than an industrial asset. “I think there’s been a change there,” Saunders says. “We’re working with operational customers a lot more, and the composure of our sales is shifting away from being dominated by early adopters and we’re starting to see repeat sales and interest in larger fleets of robots.”

Deploying and supporting a large fleet of Spots is one of the things that allowed Boston Dynamics to feel comfortable offering a research version. Researchers are not particularly friendly to their robots, because the goal of research is often to push the envelope of what’s possible. And part of that process includes getting very well acquainted with what turns out to be not possible, resulting in robots that end up on the floor, sometimes in pieces. The research version of Spot will include a mandatory Spot Care Service Plan , which exists to serve commercial customers but will almost certainly provide more value to researchers, who want to see what kinds of crazy things they can get Spot to do.

Exactly how crazy those crazy things will be remains to be seen. Boston Dynamics is starting out with a beta program for the research Spots partially because it’s not quite sure yet how many safeguards to put in place within the API. “We need to see where the problems are,” Saunders says. “We still have a little work to do to really home in how our customers are going to use it.” Deciding how much Spot should be able to put itself at risk in the name of research may be a difficult question to answer, but I’m pretty sure that the beta program participants are going to do their best to find out how much tolerance Boston Dynamics has for Spot shenanigans. I just hope that whatever happens, they share as much video of it as possible.

The Spot Early Adopter Program for the new RL Researcher Kit is open for applications here .

• Boston Dynamics’ Spot Robot Gets Even More Capable With Enhanced Autonomy, Mobility ›
• Boston Dynamics’ Founder on the Future of Robotics ›
• Boston Dynamics: Home ›

Evan Ackerman is a senior editor at IEEE Spectrum . Since 2007, he has written over 6,000 articles on robotics and technology. He has a degree in Martian geology and is excellent at playing bagpipes.

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