When writing your CV, it’s important to avoid weak and passive verbs, stay away from business jargon or clichés, and watch out for tired words and phrases. These faulty word choices can undermine the strength and effectiveness of your CV. Instead, make a point of using powerful action verbs and avoid overusing the same verbs (such as “assisted,” “oversaw,” and “utilised”).
Action words are specific, clarify your contributions, and bring a confident tone to your CV and list of accomplishments. Here is an example:
Lacks strength and clarity: “Held weekly status meetings to share client updates.”
Empowered and detailed: “Initiated weekly status meetings to communicate agency revenue growth.”
Can you see how the second option is stronger and more detailed? The action verb at the beginning of the sentence makes your contribution clear and impactful.
Read more: 6 Universal Rules for Writing Your CV
Pro-tip: Combine your selection of action verbs with quantifiable results to show both what you did and the effect it had. For example, “Championed use of user feedback in programme improvements, resulting in 50% boost in customer satisfaction ratings.”
Select from the following action verbs to give your CV an edge:
To demonstrate your strong work ethic or introduce your accomplishments, try:
Achieved | Enacted | Spearheaded |
Capitalised | Endeavoured | Steered |
Championed | Established | Stimulated |
Deciphered | Exceeded | Supervised |
Discerned | Sharpened | Surpassed |
Drive | Sparked |
Instead of “duties included,” “responsible for,” “served as,” or “actions encompassed,” try:
Accelerated | Developed | Increased |
Accomplished | Executed | Initiated |
Analysed | Expanded | Implemented |
Assembled | Finalised | Instituted |
Built | Forged | Produced |
Founded | Guided | Reached |
Created | Handled | Simplified |
Constructed | Headed | Volunteered |
Delivered | Improved |
To illustrate your communication skills, try:
Collaborated | Instructed | Spoke |
Conveyed | Performed | Trained |
Enlivened | Presented |
For creative positions, try:
Authored | Drafted | Prototyped |
Brainstormed | Edited | Published |
Briefed | Illustrated | Researched |
Communicated | Imagined | Strategised |
Conceptualised | Influenced | Story-boarded |
Curated | Intensified | Translated |
Derived | Modelled | Visualised |
Designed | Proofread | Wrote |
For sales positions, try:
Captured | Earned | Negotiated |
Conserved | Generated | Won |
Converted | Maximised |
For management positions, try:
Advised | Endorsed | Reconciled |
Arranged | Enforced | Reduced |
Augmented | Ensured | Replaced |
Centralised | Forecasted | Resolved |
Championed | Fostered | Orchestrated |
Differentiated | Identified | Optimised |
Directed | Integrated | Predicted |
Empowered | Leveraged | Renovated |
For financial positions, try:
Audited | Dispensed | Maintained |
Classified | Halted | Minimised |
Collected | Investigated | Recognised |
Equalised | Lowered | Secured |
For technical positions, try:
Advanced | Diagnosed | Programmed |
Architected | Discovered | Rewrote |
Automated | Formulated | Refined |
Coded | Installed | Tested |
Deployed | Launched | Troubleshot |
Detected | Networked | Upgraded |
Devised | Planned |
The National Careers Service provides free, up to date, impartial information, advice and guidance on careers, skills and the labour market in England to anyone aged 13 and upwards. To speak to a National Careers Service adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our webchat (8:00am to 10:00pm, 7 days a week.)