Using powerful verbs when writing your CV will help you to show off your skills and achievements. However, there are certain verbs that hiring managers encounter over and over again which causes them to lose their impact:
I led…
I managed…
I handled…
I was responsible for…
If you want to stand out from your competition, you’ll need to be a little more creative. We’ve got some powerful action words that will help you to make an impact and showcase your achievements.
If you took the lead on a project
Avoid “I led” and try one of these:
- Coordinated
- Executed
- Headed
- Operated
- Organised
- Oversaw
- Planned
- Produced
If you created and managed a project
As the brains behind a project who developed and implemented an idea, you could use:
- Administered
- Built
- Created
- Designed
- Developed
- Devised
- Founded
- Engineered
- Established
- Formulated
- Implemented
- Incorporated
- Initiated
- Introduced
- Launched
- Spearheaded
If you saved the company time or money
Employers love candidates who want to help their team operate more efficiently, so if you have experience doing this, highlight it with these verbs:
- Conserved
- Consolidated
- Decreased
- Deducted
- Lessened
- Reduced
- Yielded
If you increased revenue, sales or customer satisfaction
Likewise, if you have boosted a company’s income in some way, you’re sure to impress potential employers. Consider using:
- Accelerated
- Achieved
- Advanced
- Boosted
- Capitalised
- Delivered
- Enhanced
- Expanded
- Furthered
- Gained
- Generated
- Improved
- Lifted
- Maximised
If you improved or updated something
If you’ve made some fantastic changes at your workplace, be sure to talk about them using words like these:
- Centralised
- Converted
- Customised
- Influenced
- Integrated
- Merged
- Modified
- Overhauled
- Redesigned
- Remodelled
- Reorganised
- Replaced
- Restructured
- Revamped
- Revitalised
- Simplified
- Standardised
- Streamlined
- Strengthened
- Updated
- Upgraded
- Transformed
If you managed a team
Instead of using standard verbs like “I led” or “I managed”, you can showcase your leadership skills with terms like:
- Aligned
- Cultivated
- Directed
- Facilitated
- Fostered
- Guided
- Hired
- Inspired
- Mentored
- Mobilised
- Motivated
- Recruited
- Regulated
- Shaped
- Supervised
- Trained
If you were responsible for bringing in a new partner/sponsor/funding source
These verbs will help you to show how you brought in a new partner:
- Acquired
- Forged
- Negotiated
- Partnered
- Secured
If you offered excellent customer service
If you go above and beyond to support your customers, you could use:
- Advised
- Advocated
- Coached
- Consulted
- Educated
- Informed
- Resolved
If you were involved in research
Have you been involved in conducting research or analysis? These verbs are worth using:
- Analysed
- Assembled
- Assessed
- Audited
- Calculated
- Discovered
- Evaluated
- Examined
- Explored
- Forecasted
- Identified
- Interpreted
- Investigated
- Mapped
- Measured
- Surveyed
- Tested
- Tracked
If you want to show off your communication skills
If communication is a big part of your role, these verbs will help you to show-off both your written and spoken communication skills:
- Authored
- Briefed
- Campaigned
- Composed
- Conveyed
- Convinced
- Corresponded
- Critiqued
- Defined
- Documented
- Edited
- Persuaded
- Promoted
- Publicised
- Reviewed
If you oversaw or regulated
Be more specific about how you enforced a protocol or managed requests by using words like these:
- Authorised
- Blocked
- Delegated
- Dispatched
- Enforced
- Ensured
- Inspected
- Monitored
- Screened
- Scrutinised
- Verified
If you achieved something great
Have you won an award for your work? Did you exceed your targets? You can talk about your achievements on your CV by using words like:
- Attained
- Awarded
- Completed
- Demonstrated
- Earned
- Exceeded
- Outperformed
- Reached
- Showcased
- Succeeded
- Surpassed
- Targeted
If you can incorporate some of these powerful verbs into your CV, you will show employers that you have the skills and experience to be successful in their company.
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