'Decreased' is a term that essentially conveys a reduction, lessening, or decline in something. It's like watching a mountain gradually become a hill, or a roaring river slowly turning into a stream. In the context of a resume, 'Decreased' is often used to demonstrate a candidate's ability to cut costs, reduce inefficiencies, or minimize risks in their previous roles. It's a word that communicates the individual's knack for making things leaner, more efficient, and more cost-effective. However, while 'Decreased' can be a powerful word to use, it isn't always the most impactful choice for a resume. It can sometimes come across as passive or negative, suggesting a focus on contraction rather than growth. Furthermore, it may not fully capture the breadth and depth of your accomplishments. For these reasons, it can be beneficial to consider other synonyms or alternative phrases that can more effectively highlight your skills and achievements. By choosing the right language, you can ensure your resume stands out and truly reflects your potential as a candidate.
Start tailoring your resume to the job description

- Implemented new inventory management system that decreased warehouse costs by 30% within the first year.
- Developed and executed a strategic plan that decreased employee turnover rate by 15% over a two-year period.
- Introduced a new sales strategy that decreased the sales cycle length by 20%, resulting in increased revenue.
- Decreased time spent on administrative tasks.
- Decreased the number of customer complaints.
- Decreased the amount of paper used in the office.
"Decreased expenses"
This statement is too vague and does not provide any specific information about how expenses were decreased. It is better to provide specific examples or details to showcase your cost-saving abilities and accomplishments.
"Decreased customer complaints"
While it may seem like a positive statement, it lacks impact and does not highlight any specific achievements. Instead, it is better to mention the extent of the decrease or the strategies implemented to reduce customer complaints, such as "Implemented a new customer service training program, resulting in a 50% decrease in customer complaints within six months."
"Decreased production time"
This statement is too general and does not provide any specific information about how production time was decreased. It is better to provide specific examples or details to showcase your efficiency improvements and accomplishments, such as "Implemented lean manufacturing principles, resulting in a 30% decrease in production time and a 15% increase in overall productivity."
"Decreased employee turnover"
While it may seem like a positive statement, it lacks impact and does not highlight any specific achievements. Instead, it is better to mention the extent of the decrease or the strategies implemented to reduce employee turnover, such as "Developed and implemented a comprehensive employee retention program, resulting in a 25% decrease in employee turnover within one year."
Decreasing costs
Instead of using "Decreased costs," job seekers can use synonyms like "Reduced expenses," "Minimized expenditures," or "Trimmed overhead." These alternatives highlight their ability to identify cost-saving opportunities, implement efficient strategies, and contribute to financial savings for the company.
Improving efficiency
When describing efforts to enhance efficiency, job seekers can opt for synonyms such as "Streamlined processes," "Optimized workflows," or "Enhanced productivity." These terms emphasize their skills in identifying bottlenecks, implementing improvements, and achieving higher levels of productivity, showcasing their ability to drive operational effectiveness.
Mitigating risks
Instead of using "Decreased risks," job seekers can use synonyms like "Mitigated hazards," "Managed vulnerabilities," or "Reduced exposure." These alternatives highlight their ability to identify potential risks, implement preventive measures, and ensure the safety and security of the organization. They demonstrate their proactive approach to risk management and their commitment to maintaining a secure environment.
Find the Right Synonyms for Any Job
Frequently Asked Questions
A great replacement for 'Decreased' on a resume could be 'Reduced'. For example, instead of saying "Decreased operational costs", you could say "Reduced operational costs", which conveys a proactive, positive action. Other alternatives could be 'Diminished', 'Lessened', or 'Minimized', depending on the context.
It's appropriate to use 'Decreased' on your resume when you're describing a situation where you've effectively reduced costs, minimized risks, or lowered inefficiencies in your previous roles. For example, you might say "Decreased operational costs by 15% through strategic vendor negotiations" or "Decreased project delivery times by 20% by implementing agile methodologies." This shows potential employers that you have a track record of improving processes and saving resources.
"Decreased" is relevant for your resume if you've contributed to reducing costs, minimizing errors, or lowering other significant metrics in your previous roles. For example, you might say "Decreased operational costs by 20% through efficient resource management" or "Decreased production errors by 15% by implementing a new quality control system". This word showcases your ability to improve efficiency and effectiveness.